In the rescue plan of the national airline, besides the 18 pilots side-lined under the ‘Leave without Pay’ scheme, about 1300 Mauritian employees from various sections are considered as ‘excess baggage’ for the survival of the airline. MALPA suggests that for the destination, both in air and on ground, everything should be manned and managed only by Mauritian staff in a way to make up for the company’s debts faster.
“Giving free access to foreign airlines to serve Mauritius will not improve the financial situation,” said Ivor Tan Yan, negotiator for the Mauritius Air Lines Pilots Association (MALPA), who expects a political decision to be taken for the benefit of MK employees and to alleviate debts estimated at more than Rs 6.1 billion. This suggestion follows the 5-year Leave without Pay of these 18 pilots and he fears the same or worse fate for the 1300 targeted employees. He advocated that liberalisation will not serve the interests of the rescue plan for either the employees or the company and that it is a ‘momentary monopolisation‘ that will not only ensure employment but also create competition between airlines that will help reap faster debt relief. “This is what justifies our refusal to liberalise air access,” he says.
As for these 18 pilots, “many of them are part of the Mauritian Pilots Program and two of them are even laureates. Some of them have even opted to work only for the country. During the last year’s upheavals, in July and August, they signed up for a reduced salary due to the chaotic situation of the airline. First and foremost, they are assets rather than liabilities. Of course, following the agreements, MK will not recruit any more external pilots and they will be called back to service in seniority order, if necessary. What has happened to them is unfair and unjustified, while those who deserve a discounted salary or a leave without pay are certain executives and management decision-makers who hold several positions and receive very large salaries,” says Ivor Tan Yan, referring to the company influencers who have not suffered from the bad situation the company is facing. According to our interlocutor, the plan would be justified, plausible and legal given that Mauritius has only one national airline.
