2,200 Malindo Staff Sign Off With Heartbreaking Farewells Over Airline Retrenchment
Some parties have criticised the retrenchment program.
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Malindo Air has undergone further retrenchments to cut costs during the Covid-19 pandemic. It is expected that its present workforce of 3,200 will shrink down to just 1,000.
For many Malindo staff, they were offered a three-month salary severance package during this retrenchment. Many took to social media to share their experiences at the airline, leading to a flood of love on social media, from air stewardesses to pilots to on-ground staff alike.
Me, signing off ✈️
— AINA (@kaatnizz) November 1, 2020
Thank you for wonderful 4 years ❤️ #malindo pic.twitter.com/9OKRFBtKBQ
last day kerja, thank you malindo for 5 amazing years pic.twitter.com/L92zwWsXR4
— XXXASH (@Ashtasyy) October 31, 2020
31 oct is my last day with #malindo. I can’t believe I should write this but thanks for everything.Thanks for all the supports,experience and memories that you have given throughout this wonderful journey.This is the best team ever.Once aviators forever aviator.
— nami 🙊 (@ninanazmi19) November 1, 2020
Signing off✈️ pic.twitter.com/ggqxbUiHO4
Some even offered helpful tips on walking into joblessness.
Dear all Malindo Air Staff please claim your EIS money from PERKESO. First month of being unemployed u will receive 80% from your prev salary. The next month and so on you will receive money too but the percentage will be reduced. U will receive allowances as well https://t.co/dHyNEK9uN7
— ExpressoLatte (@imansinclair) November 1, 2020
While the outpouring of fondness from ex-crew and customers alike were tinged with sadness, a few raised some questions about the instability of the airline industry as a whole as well as Malindo Airway’s drastic retrenchment program.
Either synergise the entire flight industry in Malaysia or find a way to assist ALL the retrenched individuals by re-skilling or placing them in new industry
— Syed Saddiq 🇲🇾🌺 (@SyedSaddiq) October 31, 2020
I’ve also voiced this out during my meeting with Minister of Finance
Hopefully together we’ll find the best solution 🙏🏽
Most notably, the National Union of Flight Attendants Malaysia (Nufam) has critisized the move, stating that Malindo was paid close to RM3 million by Socso under the Employee Retention Programme (ERP).
Nufam states that this payment meant that the airline should be able to retain most of its workers until the middle of next year.
Additionally, the airline had already put many of its workers on long-term leave until next July as well, as most Malindo staff have not received their salaries since June.
Regardless, many ex-airline staff are finding it difficult to hold on to their jobs as the industry stays crippled by the Covid-19 pandemic.
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Anne is an advocate of sustainable living and the circular economy, and has managed to mum-nag the team into using reusable containers to tapau food. She is also a proud parent of 4 cats and 1 rabbit.