SEVERANCE packages for former Bahrain Air staff could cost a combined total of BD2.2 million, unionists have told the GDN.

Ex-employees were expected to start receiving their redundancy payouts yesterday or today, revealed Bahrain Air Trade Union chairman Abdull Raoof.

He said the size of compensation packages for the 345 staff, who were laid off after the airline went into voluntary redundancy last month, ranged from as much as BD140,000 to as low as BD700.

Voluntary

Details of the payouts emerged during a meeting with the liquidator, Mourad Consultancy, and the Labour Ministry on Thursday.

“They said in the last meeting on Thursday that all employees both expatriates and Bahrainis would be getting paid on Sunday or Monday (this week),” said Mr Raoof.

“Now the payment that employees will be getting ranges from BD140,000 at its highest and to as little as BD700.

“Following the last meeting we were told we could visit human resources to get a written confirmation of what exactly was owed to us.

“We requested this as we didn’t want any disagreements after the sums were transferred into our accounts.”

However, Mr Raoof criticised the size of the payouts after the union failed to secure each employee an additional one month’s salary for every year
they had worked.

The GDN reported previously that staff would get 24 days’ pay for every year they worked, as well as compensation for their notice period and leave until the end of February 12 – while expatriate staff would receive their indemnity payments.

“I have been working there for five years since the company started and I am getting BD2,500 as a settlement,” he complained.

“I have heard some working there for only six months are getting BD711, which seems very disproportional (compared to people getting much higher amounts).”

He also complained about the length of time it was taking to pay off former staff, who have had their credit cards frozen and been denied access to their personal bank accounts as part of controversial measures imposed by financial institutions.

The measures, which were taken to prevent people running up debts and leaving the country, and are only due to be lifted once former airline staff have paid off outstanding loans – for which they still have to make repayments.

Trouble

“We want the process to speed up. We are all in trouble now,” said Mr Raoof.

“We are unemployed and most of our bank accounts are still closed, which means that we have to make drastic choices to try to pay off loans.

“We are suffering.”

Bahrain Air suspended all operations and announced it was going into voluntary liquidation on February 12 after running up more than BD17m in debts to the government.

Mr Raoof criticised the apparent lack of action in finding 133 Bahrainis who worked for the airline new jobs.

He acknowledged that Gulf Air had offered jobs to out of work Bahraini pilots, but added that some failed recruitment tests.

“There were talks that the 133 Bahraini employees would be given jobs, but until now – almost for weeks later – only pilots have been offered jobs at Gulf Air.

“However, they have been asked to do a very complicated test to get in which I know some have already failed, so it is not like their experience is being honoured.

“They (Gulf Air) are treating them like fresh graduates and have made this test so difficult that pilots will not be recruited.

“What happens to them?”

Meanwhile, MPs are being asked to intervene on behalf of about six to 10 former Bahrain Air employees said to be one to three years away from qualifying for retirement.

“I have brought up senior members of staff who almost completed their retirement period, but will be unable to,” said Mr Raoof.

“They are too old now to be hired, but they are too young to retire – which puts them in a bad situation.”

He also called on parliament to find openings at Gulf Air for Bahraini nationals.

“We are pushing parliament to step in to find jobs for the cabin crew, not only the pilots,” said Mr Raoof.

“Gulf Air has already let go of hundreds (as part of a major downsizing) and there must be some vacancies now.

“There are only 133 Bahrainis (who used to work at Bahrain Air), it is not too many.”

Responding to complaints over the hiring of former Bahrain Air pilots, a Gulf Air spokeswoman said all new recruits go through the same process.

“All pilots wishing to join Gulf Air regardless of age, gender, experience and nationality undergo the same recruitment process,” she said.

“This rigorous candidate selection, which is benchmarked to international standards, ensures that Gulf Air continues to operate with the highest levels of safety.

“The recruitment process is ongoing and Gulf Air remains committed to offering all ex-Bahrain Air Bahraini pilots who successfully complete this process appropriate positions at Gulf Air.”

ahmed@gdn.com.bh