After strong reactions from its pilots, Air India on Thursday said that no employee of Air India will be laid off. “The meeting reiterated that unlike other carriers which have laid off large number of their employees, no employee of Air India will be laid off,” the national carrier said on Twitter. It further added that there has been no reduction in the basic pay, dearness allowance and house rent allowance of any employee.
“Allowances had to be rationalised owing to the airline’s difficult financial situation already exacerbated by the novel coronavirus pandemic, the statement added.
Air India further clarified that its flying crew will be paid as per the actual number of hours flown and the Board’s measures regarding allowances will be reviewed as domestic and international flight operations expand gradually.
Earlier this month, India’s national carrier approved a scheme enabling its Chairperson and Managing Director Rajiv Bansal to place employees on compulsory leave without pay for six months or a period of two years, extendable up to five years. The scheme was approved during the 102nd meeting of Air India’s Board of Directors.