AFTER failing to pay nearly 300 staff their salaries for two months, a charter airline finally paid one month’s salary to a majority of the workers after complaints were highlighted in the media.

National Union of Flight Attendants Malaysia (Nufam) president Ismail Nasaruddin said flyGlobal Charter paid the staff their January salary in the last few days, except for a group who had filed complaints against the company to the Labour Office.

“As of today, over 10 had filed formal complaints over the late salary payments. They did not get their January salaries. For some, their contracts were discontinued,” he told The Malaysian Insight.

“It is as if they are singled out because they had filed complaints. But the others got their pay. Is this fair?”

After the complaints were filed, Ismail said, the company would be told by the Labour Office to pay the salaries within 30 days.

“Can you imagine waiting for another one month? It must be difficult for the staff and their families to cope.”

Ismail added that this was not the first time the staff was not paid on time. A similar case happened last year, he said.

“By right, when such things happen, the company should inform the staff and come up with some strategic plan. But they only start to pay the salaries after we take the issue to the press and authorities.

“The company’s failure to make contributions to EPF (Employees’ Provident Fund) and Socso (Social Security Organisation) issue is also still unresolved,” he said.

Ismail added that Nufam would follow-up with the relevant authorities on the situation affecting the airline’s staff.

According to its website, Kuala Lumpur-based flyGlobal has been flying since 2017. Its business is focused on Asian and Middle-Eastern charter and wet lease market.

The airline operates Boeing 777 aircraft and plans to expand its fleet to 10 aircraft by 2021.

Nufam highlighted the airline staff’s plight in the media last week. Yesterday, the Malaysian Trade Union Congress’ Penang division secretary K. Veeriah also issued a statement on the case.

Veeriah urged the company to pay all outstanding wages to the staff without further delay, adding that working with pay was “bonded labour”.

He also urged the Human Resources Ministry’s agencies to take action to assist Nufam and the affected staff.

“We also call upon the Malaysian Aviation Commission and, by extension, the Transport Ministry to look into the matter as the said airline may well be in breach of its regulations in the matter,” he said in his statement.

An officer at the Human Resources Ministry told The Malaysian Insight that the ministry was aware of the case and that the matter was being investigated.

An email has been sent to flyGlobal to seek comments. – March 20, 2019.