Heard a similar report over here on the dark side at FZ, with it even going so far as to suggest that FZ folk whom might be keen to go over to EK, but whom are hamstrung in that desire due to still being subject to some level of 'bond' by FZ, would have any outstanding bond 'paid off' by EK, albeit that the amount 'paid off' (to FZ) would then be added to the bond that would be imposed upon their arrival within EK.
Now if any of that's true, it suggests that EK are getting desperate and, seemingly, are now quite prepared to stamp all over their younger FZ brother.
That said, it'd make good sense for EK do that (i.e. pay off bonds) wherein the recruitment process & quality of recruits are likely to be very similar between EK & FZ, and that EK then gets an in-situ candidate (i.e. someone whom is already here, living & settled in Dubai), and that this scheme would bond the heck out of them (so it's not so easy for them to run away when the penny drops that it's all "same ****, different airline").