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SINGAPORE – Dubai-based ground handling company dnata laid off workers in Singapore on Friday (August 28) when the Covid-19 pandemic affected the company’s operations.
According to the workers, the company may have laid off more than 100 employees. Dnata did not confirm the figure when asked, and NTUC declined to comment on how many union members were affected in the downsizing exercise.
Dnata employs more than 1,800 people in Singapore and has been operating here for 50 years, according to its website. It provides services such as on-board catering, cargo and passenger security services.
The fired workers said they were caught by surprise.
A Singaporean worker in her 60s, who had worked at the company for more than three decades, said: “I cried because I have worked there for so long and my colleagues are like sisters and brothers to me.”
Another worker, also in her 60s, said she suspected she would be fired when she saw that her name was not on the task list in an email sent to staff each morning.
His fears were confirmed when his supervisor asked him to go to the human resources department. “Before I knew it, I felt sad for my colleagues who were affected because they were good workers. I didn’t realize that they would fire me too.”
Both employees declined to be identified for fear of repercussions.
The Covid-19 pandemic has caused an unprecedented disruption to global trade and industry, and has devastated the aviation and travel sectors.
A dnata spokesperson said: “The situation remains very fluid and unpredictable changes in demand, schedule and capacity are becoming the norm. Given this operating environment, and like so many other organizations in Singapore that have been affected, we’ve had to take steps to correct – size our business and make sure it’s fit for purpose. “
He said the firm has worked closely with the union and government agencies and is complying with the Government’s Tripartite Advisory on Managing Surplus Labor and Responsible Reduction
The firm will have a higher proportion of Singaporeans after the downsizing exercise, he said, going from 63 percent of Singapore’s dnata workforce to 73 percent after downsizing.
The spokesperson said the company has engaged dnata’s Singapore Staff Union and NTUC’s Employment and Employability Institute (e2i) to share job openings and upcoming job fairs, as well as to facilitate individual professional training sessions for affected employees.
Dnata Singapore Staff Union Chairman Sheikh Muhammed said it is a difficult time, especially for those working in aviation and its supporting industries.
“While efforts have been made to protect jobs and livelihoods, we understand that the company is facing extremely challenging times and has no choice but to be sized right. We stand in solidarity with our co-workers and will do our best. to help them through this difficult time, “he said.
NTUC Deputy CEO and e2i CEO Gilbert Tan said e2i will engage affected workers to share suitable job opportunities and provide access to resources such as professional consultations and employability workshops.
He said: “We strive to be one step ahead in protecting workers’ livelihoods by comparing them to the jobs put together by the NTUC Workforce Safety Council. To make this work, we urge companies to come forward, work with us so that workers can find work before any downsizing if unavoidable. “
The layoffs at dnata come amid a series of cuts in the aerospace and aviation sector, which has been hit hard.
Boeing Asia Pacific Aviation Services (Bapas), a joint venture between The Boeing Company and SIA Engineering Company, said Thursday it would cut 27 employees.
The workers, which include engineers and professionals from different roles throughout the company, represent about 13 percent of the 204-person workforce at Bapas, which provides fleet management services for Boeing aircraft.
On August 3, aerospace giant Pratt & Whitney laid off around 400 employees at five of its six facilities here. The company employs more than 2,000 workers in Singapore and layoffs accounted for 20 percent of its local workforce.
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