KARACHI: The Pakistan Airline Pilots’ Association (PALPA) has taken a stay order against the reduction of pilots’ guaranteed flying hours and pay cuts from the Sindh High Court (SHC).
In this regard, the SHC on Saturday issued an interim order restricting Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) from taking any adverse action against the association.
It is to be noted that the association had filed a suit in the SHC against two of PIA’s admin orders for a permanent injunction against PIA and its chief human resource officer (CHRO).
According to this order, the national flag carrier’s management has been directed to stay within the ambit of Pakistan International Airline Corporation Limited (PIACL) Conversion Act 2016 which states that “The salaries, emoluments and all other terms of service of employees, whether permanent or contractual, shall not be changed to their disadvantage…”
PALPA President Captain Salman Riaz said that the said admin orders are an attempt to drastically change the established fixed salary structure of pilots of the national airline and also to cut down sanctioned off days.
Besides, he added, the said admin orders are also an attempt to introduce new punitive actions for safety violations, which is in violation of the established good practices of International Civil Aviation Authority (ICAA) as well as introducing vague, unsafe and detrimental conditions of service.
Moreover, he added, the 48th board meeting of the national airline, in which these decisions were taken, on August 5 was illegal. “The tenure of PIACL board expired on June 6. The federal government later extended the tenure of the PIACL Board from June 7 to August 6.”
“The board in this meeting decided to review all qualification, trade, and assignment-related allowances of employees and authorised the CEO to decide rationalisation, curtailment, the applicability of all such allowances,” said Riaz.
Hence, he added, the management issued admin orders changing guaranteed flying allowance of 75 hours and 10 Days off to 50 hours and five days off with effect from October 1.
Admin orders also altered certain facilities to pilots regarding privilege leave, unauthorised leave, and flying allowance in relation to a safety violation.
“All these decisions under the said admin orders are a clear violation of Section 3(6) of the Pakistan International Airlines Corporation (Conversion) Act, 2016,” said Riaz.
The PALPA President said that the previous committee of the association gave powers to the new committee to decide about salaries, therefore, they have to take a decision in the best interest of pilots.
