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SINGAPORE: The COVID-19 crisis continues to hit the aviation industry, with the corporate assistance dnata being the last to fire employees.
The members involved were informed of his dismissal on Friday (August 28).
In reaction to an ANC’s questions, dnata told the ANC that it needed to take steps to “properly scale” its activities due to an “unprecedented disruption” through the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The scenario remains very fluid and unpredictable adjustments in demand, time and capacity are the norm,” said a dnata spokesman.
“Given this operating environment, and like many other organizations in Singapore that have been affected, we have had to take steps to extend our business well and that is consistent with the purpose,” he added.
“We have conducted extensive testing of the workforce and made some very complicated but mandatory decisions to let some of of us go.”
Dnata refused to say how many other people were dismissed or what reimbursement was given to those affected.
In Singapore, dnata, a subsidiary of Emirates Group, provides a number of services, adding shipping handling, catering and security at Changi Airport.
According to its website, it employs more than 1,800 here.
By letting its workers through, the dnata stated that it was working hard with the union and government approval agencies to ensure compliance with the tripartite dismissal council and to “provide all imaginable assistance to the workers concerned.”
Dnata will have “a more powerful Singaporean core” than before, he said.
“Prior to the exercise, 63 per cent of dnata Singapore’s workforce were Singaporeans. After the retrenchment, 73 per cent will be made up of Singaporeans,” it added.
WORKERS AFFECTED BY HELPING FIND NEW JOB OPPORTUNITIES
The company stated that it had hired the dnata Singapore union (DSSU) and the e2i (Employment and Employability Institute) for the percentage of “organized job offers” and upcoming job fairs, as well as to facilitate individual vocational training sessions for the workers concerned.
“The NTUC e2i will interact with the staff involved to determine the percentage of appropriate employment opportunities and provide them with resources such as career consultations and employability workshops if necessary,” said Gilbert Tan, CEO of e2i.
Mr. Tan, who is also deputy director general of NTUC, added that e2i strives to be “a step forward for workers’ livelihoods” by matching them with the jobs gathered through the NTUC Employment Security Council.
“For this picture thing, we urge corporations to come closer, checkered with us so staff can work before any dismissal if inevitable,” he added.
After taking steps to manage prices from the start of the pandemic, the last hotel was taken to reduce staff through dnata, which had informed DSSU of its plans in advance, the union noted.
He added that most of the other people involved hold paint permits, a third of whom are still in their home country due to restrictions.
“Dnata Singapore has worked with DSSU to extend fair compensation terms and employment-related assistance to affected employees,” said a union spokesperson.
“This is a difficult time for all of us, especially those operating in aviation and its industries,” DSSU President Sheikh Muhammed said.
“While efforts have been made to generate jobs and livelihoods, we perceive that the company is facing incredibly difficult times and does not yet have a selection of the right size,” he added.
“We stand in solidarity with our colleagues and will do everything we can for them at this difficult time.”
Commercial aviation has been heavily affected by coronavirus and Dubai-based Emirates, dnata’s parent company, declared in June that it fired an unspecified number of personnel, adding cockpit equipment and pilots.
Earlier this month, aerospace company Pratt and Whitney announced that it cut about 20% of its singapore workforce, while domestic airline Singapore Airlines introduced the cabin crew to the option of early release or retirement as a component of a number of cost-cutting measures.