Air India To Send Staff On Leave Without Pay For The Next 5 Years

In order to reduce expenses during the current pandemic, Air India’s board of directors has approved compulsory leave without pay for certain employees for a period of up to five years. As per reports, Air India Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) Rajiv Bansal can now send staff on leave without pay “for six months or for a period of two years extendable up to five years,”. The departmental heads and regional directors will evaluate every employee on the basis of some factors. A few days before, Air India had also issued certain regulations for the crew members to operate amid COVID-19.

Air India Is Sending Certain Employees On Compulsory Leave Without Pay For Up to 5 Years

The board of directors will assess the employees on the basis of certain factors. This includes suitability, efficiency, competence, performance quality, health and instance of non-availability for duty in the past. According to the official order of July 14, names of these Air India employees need to be forwarded to the General Manager in the headquarter for receiving approval of CMD.

The order stated, “This scheme (LWP) is being introduced for grant of leave without pay and allowances for permanent employees, for a period of six months (extendable up to 5 years) or for a period of two years(extendable up to 5 years) at the discretion of the Management. It also added that the board of directors have approved a scheme.

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Employee List To Be Forwarded By August 15

There are more than 11,000 permanent employees on the payroll of Air India, including staff from auxiliary organizations. The airline’s heads have been told to send the employees’ list for compulsory LWP by August 15. The aviation sector has faced a major blow due to the virus-induced lockdown. Many airlines, including the world’s second-oldest airline, Avianca have even filed for bankruptcy. Some other carriers are opting for salary-cuts and employee layoffs. Airlines in India are gazing at a revenue loss of a thumping ₹1.3 trillion between 2020 and 2022 owing to the pandemic.

Also Read: Air India To Operate Flights To Singapore, UK, Netherlands, Germany In July 2020

Domestic passenger flights have resumed in India on May 25. However, they are allowed to operate with only 45 percent capacity. Here’s a peek into the future of the air travel with Neerja Bhatia, Etihad airlines.