SUBANG JAYA: The National Union of Flight Attendants Malaysia (Nufam) has questioned the lack of action by the Human Resources Ministry in defending the rights of Malaysia Airlines Bhd’s retrenched workers.
Nufam president Ismail Nasaruddin said it was sad that the ministry took two years to decide that this case would not be referred to the industrial court.
“We fought for this case since 2015 when Malaysia Airlines retrenched 6,000 workers, of which 3,600 took their cases up to the ministry. Some of them were cabin crew.
“Those affected by the retrenchment were told to file their complaints to the ministry and there was also a representation session by the ministry which ensured those affected were represented,” he told reporters at Nufam headquarters here today.
Ismail added that numerous letters were sent to the ministry since June 2016, but no action had been taken till now.
“We want justice for these workers and if they can’t bring all the cases to industrial court, at least please bring forward 10 or 20 cases. We will request for a meeting with the ministry by next week to address this issue,” he said.
Meanwhile, former cabin crew Shashi Kumar Shanmugam, 43, said since he was retrenched two years ago, it was difficult for him to keep down a job due to the age factor.
“I was with the airline for 20 years and suddenly they just shut me off. I’m pleading that this total injustice must stop,” he said.
It was reported recently that Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri Richard Riot Jaem had said he did not receive any letters on the issue and that the cases should not be referred to the Industrial Court.
He had said the decision not to refer the cases to industrial court were made after a discussion between Industrial Relations Department and the ministry’s legal counsel.
