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How are SIA Cabin Crew turned "Health Ambassadors" paid?

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5 years ago

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According to newspaper reports, Singapore Airlines cabin crew members have been roped in to care for non-COVID-19 patients at Khoo Teck Puat Hospital. In the time of a global pandemic where there is virtually no international travel, redeploying flight attendants to work as health ambassadors is an innovative way to ensure that flight attendants are able to remain employed while taking the pressure of medical staff who are inundated by COVID-19.
The COVID-19 pandemic will not last forever and there will come a time when air travel will begin again. It is therefore a win-win solution for airlines not to lose their staff (who they have invested in training for) and for flight attendants who need to make a living. However, a valid question to ask is how these new health ambassadors are being remunerated.
Singapore Airlines (SIA) flight attendants are paid a very low base wage. The bulk of their salaries come from flight allowances. Now that there are no actual flights, are these health ambassadors getting enough money to pay their bills? Working hours at a hospital could be longer or as long as their flight schedules. With that in mind, if they are not being paid their flight allowances, it would not seem fair?
It is also important to note that while health ambassadors are not tending to COVID-19 patients, they are still in a hospital environment which is arguably a more high risk environment than an air craft or a desk job with the airline.
SIA’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Goh Choon Phong, has also publicly stated that he will take a 30 percent pay cut as opposed to the initial 15 after SIA secured a financial package of up to S$19 billion of funding (with the majority coming from Temasek Holdings) to help see it through the coronavirus crisis. While it is a nice gesture, I do wonder how he arrived at 15% and then 30%? For example, if someone was earning $1 million a year and spends 30% of that on yearly holidays, is this really a sacrifice given that no one is able to take holidays at this point? Compared to someone whose base salary is $1300 and has to pay for food and bills etc. out of that.
Pre the COVID-19 crisis, SIA was a very viable company by any yardstick, is there really a need to request for voluntary no pay leave? It would also be interesting to find out if it is the higher or lower earners who are taking the no pay leave. It would also be a travesty if shareholders are paid dividends at the end of the year if there are staff being requested to take no pay leave at this time.
What are other similar large airlines doing?
British Airways (BA) for instance will introduce a modified version of the British government’s job retention scheme, with workers furloughed on 80% of pay. However, unlike the government scheme, there will be no cap on earnings. BA has also confirmed that there will be no unpaid temporary layoffs or redundancies during this period. A redundancy process that had already begun before the crisis has also been halted. In other words, workers will have job security and money coming in during the corona virus crisis.
For those unaware, the British government has introduced a “furlough” scheme which basically sets out that if a company is unable to operate or they have no work for staff to do during the pandemic, workers can be put “on furlough”, which means they are kept on the payroll and not made redundant. Employers facing difficulties are able to access support through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme to continue paying 80 per cent of staff wages (capped at £2,500 (S$,400) per month), to avoid redundancies and keep paying staff.
So, is SIA handling the crisis as well as it is made out in the headlines? The devil is in the detail some of which is not knowledge we possess at this point. We do however need to ask the questions. SIA represents our country in many ways and in a time of crisis, there is also something called corporate responsibility.
For the avoidance of doubt, asking questions does not make us against SIA.

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Civil Society

TWC2 launches fundraising initiative for at-risk migrant workers

Transient Workers Count Too (TWC2) has launched a fundraising campaign to assist those facing challenges such as work injuries, wrongful termination or financial hardship due to underpayment disputes. The campaign, hosted on Give.asia, aims to raise S$36,000 to provide crucial support during these workers’ most difficult times.

Published

6 hours ago

on

11 October 2024

By

SINGAPORE: Transient Workers Count Too (TWC2), an advocacy group for migrant workers, has launched a fundraising campaign to support those facing difficulties, including work injuries, termination for requesting rightful salaries, or financial hardship due to disputes over underpayment.

The campaign, hosted on the Give.asia platform, aims to raise S$36,000 to provide a lifeline for these workers during their darkest hours.

The group stated that the funds will offer support to low-wage migrant workers in distress through various means, including meal assistance, phone top-ups, travel allowances, emergency shelter, and more.

TWC2 highlighted five types of workers in distress. For example, one cook was forced to perform unpaid work late into the night and was coerced into signing blank payslips.

He received less than half of his official salary, with his employer creating false timecards and payslips.

TWC2 specified the resources needed to assist migrant workers facing financial challenges over six months, including S$1,322 per month for an online helpdesk, S$876 for meal support, S$120 for phone top-ups, and S$80 for EZ-Link credit to attend Ministry of Manpower (MOM) appointments.

Worker Left Vulnerable After Company Closure: Loss of Housing and Belongings Leads to Months of Hardship

Another worker is struggling after his company closed down, leaving him without coverage for his injury.

Furthermore, his employer allegedly failed to pay his housing rent, resulting in the worker losing all his belongings, including his passport, cash, and clothes. He was left to beg and borrow clothes for nearly a month.

TWC2 stated that the funds will help him replace his passport, which costs around S$200, as well as cover S$2,228 for his monthly rent at the TWC2 shelter, S$480 for EZ-Link credit for travel to hospital appointments, and S$240 for phone top-ups.

The third case involves a migrant worker who was denied necessary surgery after suffering a finger injury from heavy machinery. Instead of being taken to the hospital immediately, he was brought to a small clinic, leading to an infection in his open fracture.

He was also pressured to return to his home country for treatment. Urgent surgery was delayed for 33 days because his employer withheld the necessary documents.

TWC2 is appealing for S$1,322 per month for online helpdesk support for this worker, S$1,898 for meal support, S$240 for phone top-ups, and S$480 for EZ-Link credit for travel to hospital appointments.

The fourth case involves a worker who was underpaid for overtime and rest day work.

He was fired after discussing information related to the Employment Act with his colleagues. His employer later contacted a potential future employer to disparage him.

This worker will require S$1,073 monthly to fund online information campaigns, S$120 for phone top-ups, and S$80 for EZ-Link credit to attend MOM appointments.

The fifth case concerns a worker who injured his back while lifting 50kg of cement. Although he was granted 300 days of medical leave, his employer did not report the incident to MOM, and the insurance company took over a year to investigate and accept his claim. The doctor instructed him to avoid catered food for health reasons.

TWC2 is seeking S$160 monthly for his groceries, S$120 for phone top-ups, and S$80 for EZ-Link credit to attend MOM appointments.

Part of this annual fundraising campaign commemorates International Migrants Day in December, which includes a luncheon, “Lunch With Heart,” for migrant workers to thank them for their contributions to Singapore.

TWC2 Highlights Ongoing Exploitation: Employers Bypass Laws to Undermine Workers’ Earnings

TWC2 noted that, according to Singapore’s Employment Act (Section 96), all workers should receive payslips detailing how their salaries are calculated and paid.

However, some employers still find ways to circumvent these laws, cheating workers out of their already low salaries. In 2023 alone, salary disputes rose by 55% according to MOM’s Employment Standards Report.

TWC2 emphasized that migrant workers who experience workplace accidents can be denied treatment by unscrupulous employers, despite being covered under the Work Injury Compensation Act. Even with medical insurance, they often lack access to it and may be sent back home with untreated injuries. The recovery process can be long and isolating, contributing to significant stress and mental health challenges for injured workers.

For these workers, a significant source of daily stress is financial insecurity.

“They are constantly thinking about providing for their family back home, ensuring loans are paid and sick family members have money for medical treatment. Essentially they are like us in every way.”

TWC2 highlighted that workers often take on overtime and forgo days off, even on public holidays, to earn higher wages. They should not be deprived of the wages they have rightfully earned or left with untreated injuries.

“We are appealing to you to offer a helping hand to these filial sons, devoted husbands, responsible mothers and dedicated workers, in their hour of dire need. ”

“We sincerely hope you can chip in so that these workers can have a lifeline in their darkest hours.”

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Labour

19 workplace fatalities in first half of 2024, MOM reports

Singapore’s Workplace Safety and Health report, issued on 9 October, revealed 19 workplace fatalities in the first half of 2024, up from 14 in 2023. Vehicular incidents were the leading cause, followed by falls from heights and equipment breakdowns. With five more deaths reported by September, the total fatalities for 2024 have reached at least 24. In comparison, 36 deaths were recorded in 2023.

Published

2 days ago

on

9 October 2024

By

SINGAPORE: Nineteen workers died from workplace injuries in the first half of 2024, an increase from 14 fatalities during the same period in 2023, according to Singapore’s Workplace Safety and Health (WSH) performance report released by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) on Wednesday (9 October).

Vehicular incidents were the leading cause of death, followed by falls from a height and the collapse or breakdown of structures and equipment.

These causes accounted for 11 of the fatalities – 58 per cent of the total deaths.

The construction, marine, transportation and storage, and manufacturing industries were responsible for 63 per cent of the 19 fatalities.

In the construction sector alone, five workers lost their lives, down from seven fatalities in the first half of 2023 and 11 in the second half of that year.

The marine industry saw four deaths in the first six months of 2024, despite no fatalities being recorded in 2023.

The transportation and storage sector had two fatalities, down from five in the same period last year. One fatality occurred in the manufacturing sector, mirroring the number from the first half of 2023.

In the water supply, sewerage, and waste management sector, three workers died, including two who inhaled poisonous fumes while cleaning tanks at PUB’s Choa Chu Kang Waterworks. There were no fatalities in this sector in 2023.

As of September 2024, five more deaths were reported, bringing the total workplace fatalities for the year to at least 24.

In comparison, 36 deaths were recorded in 2023.

The most recent workplace fatality occurred on 29 September, when a 44-year-old Bangladeshi worker tragically lost his life in an accident at a construction site within Resorts World Sentosa (RWS).

The worker was fatally struck by a collapsing steel structure during lifting operations.

Two workers tragically lost their lives on 17 September following a heavy machinery accident at a North-South Corridor construction site along Lentor Avenue.

The incident occurred while a group of workers was assembling a winch drum on two concrete blocks. The winch slipped, causing injuries to four workers.

Singapore’s Workplace Fatality Rate Rises Slightly, Now Fifth Among OECD Countries

The latest WSH report noted that Singapore’s workplace fatality rate from January to June 2024 was one death per 100,000 workers, slightly up from 0.8 in the first half of 2023 and 0.99 in the latter half of that year.

Singapore ranks fifth among Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries, with a three-year average of 1.1 deaths per 100,000 workers.

The Netherlands and United Kingdom lead with 0.4, followed by Sweden at 0.7 and Germany at 0.8.

Major Injuries Decline

There were 293 major injuries in the first half of 2024, down from 316 in the same period of 2023.

These injuries, which include amputations, blindness, and paralysis, predominantly occurred in the construction and manufacturing industries. The main causes were slips, trips and falls; machinery incidents; and falls from a height.

The manufacturing sector saw a significant 35 per cent reduction in fatalities and major injuries, with 60 incidents recorded in the first half of 2024 compared to 92 in the same period last year.

The number of fatal and major injuries from metalworking also fell sharply, from 40 in 2023 to 22 in 2024.

In the construction sector, fatalities and major injuries from smaller-scale works, such as renovations, decreased by 22 per cent, from 59 in 2023 to 46 in 2024.

Senior Minister of State for Manpower Zaqy Mohamad attributed these improvements to the expanded demerit point system and increased surveillance.

The system, introduced to the manufacturing sector in October 2023 after years of use in construction, penalises companies for safety violations, potentially barring them from hiring foreign workers for up to two years.

Minor Injuries and Occupational Diseases

In the first half of 2024, there were 10,379 minor injuries, a 4.8 per cent reduction from 10,897 in the same period of 2023.

Slips, trips, falls, and machinery incidents were the leading causes. Meanwhile, the number of occupational diseases continued to drop, with 473 cases reported, down from 653 in 2023.

MOM also reported 11 dangerous occurrences in the first half of 2024, fewer than the 12 in the same period last year. These incidents included the collapse of structures and equipment, as well as fires and explosions.

MOM conducted over 3,000 inspections in various industries and took enforcement actions against more than 7,000 breaches, issuing 717 fines totalling more than $1.4 million and 22 stop-work orders.

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