PETALING JAYA, June 1 — Many government-linked and private companies have shown support for Malaysia Airlines (MAS) staff, offering jobs to those who could be laid off today.
National Union of Flight Attendants Malaysia president Ismail Nasaruddin said 10 companies and organisations had approached the union.
“It is very kind of them. All Malaysian companies that require employees should extend their help,” he said.
He said jobs from the hospitality industry were preferred.
“They are more experienced in that sense,” he said.
“I hope they (hospitality companies) come forward with vacancies and perhaps there will be more options for those affected by the termination.”
Ismail said most of the staff were nervous and bitter about the fiasco as their fate was uncertain.
“We are doing whatever we can to lessen their pain and hope our last meeting with Umno Youth can assist the younger generation who have left their previous jobs to join MAS and could now be left jobless,” he said.
“A large number of people will be affected, including their families.”
“We are worried about their ongoing commitments because some support their parents on a monthly basis while others have other financial responsibilities.”
Malaysia Airlines System Employees Union (Maseu) president Alias Aziz said the Corporate Development Centre (CDC) had been getting daily calls the last few days from companies offering jobs.
“We welcome these efforts, regardless of whether they are from a government or private company,” he said.
“It is nice to know there are many who are concerned about the plight of the staff.”
However, he had no further details about the companies.
In a Bernama report, Alias explained the CDC was a body set up by Khazanah Nasional Berhad to support exiting MAS staff in career transition by providing them with re-skilling training and placement services.
He said the employees would be offered a broad range of free outplacement and training services, including talent profiling, career counselling, basic and detailed training, job-seeking skills, entrepreneurship, retirement planning and placement.
He said CDC would also assist those keen to venture into business in terms of counselling and funding.
He also said an association for former MAS staff would be set up after the dissolution of Maseu to look into their interests and welfare.
Alias, who has been with MAS for 34 years, said he believed all MAS staff were prepared to accept any option given by the new company.
It was reported between 6,000 and 8,000 jobs would be cut in stages over a one-year period as part of the plan and two-thirds of the 20,000 MAS workers would be re-employed by MAS Berhad.
