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South China morning post
Foreign Cathay Pacific pilots scramble for work permits in Hong Kong after hundreds of locals lost their jobs in restructuring
After cutting 5,300 jobs in Hong Kong, Cathay Pacific Airways said that the employment of foreign pilots was under “increased scrutiny” by immigration authorities and that expatriates faced difficulties obtaining and renewing work visas, according to can reveal the Post. Pilots to obtain or renew work permits to fly for the airline were leaving their jobs in limbo and risking hampering Cathay operations, especially by hiring freighter pilots in preparation to move coronavirus vaccines all over the place. the world. pilots, officials risked damaging the city’s economy and going against their promise to value Hong Kong’s status as an international aviation hub. Get the latest insights and analysis from our global impact newsletter on great stories originating from China. Aware of the situation, he said the problems began after the airline cut more than 5,000 jobs and phased out regional brand Cathay Dragon in October, subsequently leaving hundreds of local pilots in search of work. They are issued under strict criteria, including the fact that a job cannot be performed by a Hong Konger. The problems the pilots faced were not thought to be related to the current political climate. In a memo to pilots last week, Chris Kempis, Cathay’s director of flight operations, said the airline was aware that the “Department of Immigration is reviewing the renewals with increased scrutiny.” Kempis said the airline was “in active dialogue with appropriate decision-makers” in the department, acknowledging that the sudden events had caused “a degree of anxiety among those affected” and vowed to update staff as soon as possible. more information available. Post is aware of several pilots, at the company and its subsidiaries, who were granted short-term renewals of up to three months, rather than two- or three-year visa renewals. A person who did not wish to be identified, given the sensitivity of the issue, said the government was “signaling expatriates not to renew their work visa.” A Cathay Pacific spokeswoman said the company was “reaching out and responding” to any questions the department raised about visa renewals. Hong Kong Airlines to Lay Off 250 Flight Attendants in New Pandemic-Related Cuts In a note to its 2,200 members, the Hong Kong Airline Pilots Association said it had been informed “by a few members that the Immigration Department of Hong Kong has made the decision to no longer renew work permits for aircrew at this time. “Hong Kong’s immigration policy says that foreign nationals can be hired under a General Employment Policy (GEP) that includes criteria such as a genuine job vacancy, a confirmed job offer, and the job cannot be “readily accepted by the local workforce.” When asked to comment on the situation, a spokesperson for the Immigration Department said: “Overall , applications for extension of stay for persons admitted to Hong Kong for employment under the GEP will be considered if the applicant continues to meet the criteria relevant eligibility criteria. “In handling each application, the Department of Immigration will consider the circumstances of the case and will act in accordance with immigration laws and policies. “Cathay faced a similar problem in 2012 obtaining work visas for pilots abroad, according to one who was affected at the time and spoke on condition of anonymity. Former Cathay driver Jeremy Tam Man-ho, who resigned as an opponent of the lawmaker last month, has urged the Immigration Department to clarify the rules and show fairness in renewing work visas for expatriates amid a sudden availability of talent. local in the workforce. “If you look at the regulations and rules of work visas, it is clear that the employer must demonstrate the particular talent [role] it cannot be covered by the local workforce, “he said.” It’s a question of the work permit, when you renew, that condition is still valid … [It’s] not only in Hong Kong, anywhere in the world, first we try to protect the local workforce ”. The vice president of the Civic Party estimated that hundreds of pilots could be affected now and in the coming months. Almost all Cathay Pacific pilots, most of the cabin crew sign newer and cheaper contracts. Critics believed that with increased scrutiny, Cathay could be forced to hire more local pilots, a problem the airline should have anticipated, but a top airline source cautioned that replacing expats with their local counterparts would still require training and they would add cost, and the right type of trained pilot may not necessarily exist to fly specific Boeing or Airbus aircraft. “The impact is not about the visa, it is about stopping the Hong Kong economy and it does not hurt Hong Kong as a hub,” the source said. “And if a major airline cannot get the pilots to operate a freighter, who will ship the vaccines to Hong Kong?” Willis Fu Yiu-wai, director of marketing and senior immigration consultant at Goldmax Associates, said: “I expect to see a negative impact on visa renewal for those foreign workers. Based on the largest supply of labor and the least amount opportunities, as well as protecting the locals, I hope the Immigration Department does not grant a long visa to foreigners. ”More from South China Morning Post: * Cathay Pacific snubs union for pay speaks up and says will directly contact staff, on the move, flight attendant group calls ‘biggest setback’ in decade * Cathay Pacific president says no more job cuts, government bailouts needed to overcome Covid crisis- 19 * Almost all Cathay Pacific pilots, The vast majority of the cabin crew sign new salary reduction contracts * Almost all Cathay Dragon personnel will lose job positions low due to cuts as boss apologizes and says focus should be on ‘world leader’ Cathay Pacific This article Cathay Pacific foreign pilots struggle to get Hong Kong work permits after hundreds of locals lost their work on the restructuring first appeared in the South China Morning Post For the latest news from the South China Morning Post, download our mobile app. Copyright 2020.
