This archive report was first published on 6 July 2020.
Kenya Airways' plan to lay off staff has been met with opposition from the Kenya Airline Pilots Association, who claim it is a waste of resources. The association is questioning the timing of the plan, given the government's plans to nationalize the airline and the aviation sector's forecasted quick recovery in the next two years.
According to the association, the airline has been struggling to cover direct costs, including reduced salaries, since April. The association is also questioning how the airline can claim to be planning an expensive and costly staff rationalization exercise when it has been struggling to cover costs.
Kenya Airways has announced plans to undertake a 'rightsizing exercise' to enable it to steer through the tough times caused by the coronavirus pandemic. The airline has informed its employees that some will be required to proceed on unpaid leave, while others will be retained to operate cargo flights and domestic flights.
However, the Kenya Airline Pilots Association is opposing the plan, saying it is against the government's wishes to protect jobs as much as possible. The association is also questioning the airline's ability to cover costs, given its struggles since April.
"It is highly inadvisable and inconsiderate to give staff a three-day notice of unpaid leave, the same workforce having been on 35 per cent pay for the last three months," said Murithi Nyagah, General Secretary and CEO of the Kenya Airline Pilots Association.
"This is against government wish to employers to protect jobs as much as possible," he added.
