KUALA LUMPUR: In a rare move, Malaysian Airline System Bhd (MAS) is hiring part-time cabin crew, paying RM8 per hour to make up for the shortage of staff as the national carrier embarks on an expansion drive.
Sources said the airline recently circulated internal memos to selected staff to inform them about the part-time employment exercise, which aims to add to its current strength of 3,800 flight attendants. This is believed to be the first time MAS has undertaken such a move.
“Under the terms and conditions, the part-time crew must have experience and they will not be paid basic salaries but receive productivity allowance of RM30 per flight, on top of the RM8 per hour pay.
“For last-minute calls less than four hours in advance, they will be paid RM70 plus the RM30 productivity allowance and the hourly wage; for above five hours it is RM50 on top of the productivity allowance and the hourly rate. There are no other privileges,” said a source.
He added that as part-time staff, their employment contract will be reviewed after a year.
While MAS already has 3,800 flight attendants, the airline needs more cabin crew after adding new routes and frequencies in recent months. It has reinstated flights axed two years ago.
“Furthermore, the festive season is just round the corner. This is a quick way to build up the numbers,” the source said.