Alternative news in 1 day? (part 74) – Pilots not offered re-employment at 62 may get as little as $10,000?

March 7, 2014

I refer to the article “SIA cuts flying years : Captains to stop at 64, first officers at 62” (Straits Times,  Mar 7).

Undisclosed compensation for pilots?

It states that “In accordance with government guidelines and SIA’s re-employment agreement with its pilots’ union, affected pilots will receive an undisclosed lump sum payment when they leave the company”.

Re-employment Act?

When I read this – my first thought was what does the Re-employment Act say about situations like this?

Only $10,000 maximum compensation?

According to the Ministry of Manpower’s (MOM) WEB SITE –

“Assisting Eligible Employees whom Employers are Unable to Re-employ

The Tripartite Guidelines recommend that EAP should be a last resort for employers who cannot offer re-employment despite their best efforts. The EAP amount could be 3 months of salary. A minimum amount of $4,500 and a maximum amount of $10,000 could be considered.”

– So, does it mean that under the Re-employment Act – the maximum compensation for not offering re-employment at age 62, may only be about $10,000?

Protecting workers?

Isn’t the legislation arguably, rather weak in protecting workers?

Do we have possibly the weakest re-employment legislation in the world, from the perspective of workers’ rights?

Leong Sze Hian

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About the Author

Leong
Leong Sze Hian has served as the president of 4 professional bodies, honorary consul of 2 countries, an alumnus of Harvard University, authored 4 books, quoted over 1500 times in the media , has been a radio talkshow host, a newspaper daily columnist, Wharton Fellow, SEACeM Fellow, columnist for theonlinecitizen and Malaysiakini, executive producer of Ilo Ilo (40 international awards), Hotel Mumbai (associate producer), invited to speak more than 200 times in about 40 countries, CIFA advisory board member, founding advisor to the Financial Planning Associations of 2 countries. He has 3 Masters, 2 Bachelors degrees and 13 professional  qualifications.