Air India subsidiary will provide jobs to kin of employees who die of COVID-19

The ground handling subsidiary of Air India, Air India Airport Services Ltd (AIASL), will provide jobs to a family member of employees who succumb to coronavirus, the company said in a notice.

The notice came a day after 58-year-old Air India pilot, who retired in April, reportedly died of COVID-19 on June 5. 

The notice signed by GM (Personnel) read: "In view of this (coronavirus pandemic) national crisis, it has been decided by the competent authority of Al Airport Services Limited (AIASL) that the company on humanitarian and compassionate grounds, will render support to the family of the deceased employee (due to COVID-19) may he/she be from AIASL, Air India or its subsidiaries by giving suitable employment to a family member."

That would apply to AIESL, Air India Express and Alliance Air as well.
 
AIASL staff handled around 1,900 flights during the nationwide COVID-19 pandemic lockdown (up to June 4) and supported cargo operations under the UDAN (Udey Desh Ka Aam Naagarik) lifeline initiative of the central government, as well as handling flights under the Vande Bharat Mission in addition to servicing the domestic flight, it said.

AIASL, headed by ex-Air India ED Ashvini Sharma, also said the job will be provided per the company's terms of engagement and at the airports served by the firm.

AIASL provides ground handling services at the country's 81 airports.

On 30 May, JB Kadian, general secretary of Air India's largest employee union — the Air Corporation Employees Union (ACEU) — wrote to Rajiv Bansal, chairman and managing director of the airline, urging AI to include staff members attached to its subsidiaries in the "Covid-19 frontline warrior" health insurance cover.

The letter written by Kadian stated that there is no mention of Air India and its subsidiary staff in the scheme announced by the government, and equally surprising that they find no mention in the airline's Welfare Insurance Schemes.

"We would request you to be kind enough to include these staff of Air India and ensure implementation of Insurance Scheme in line with and the same manner as is announced by the government for COVID-19 frontline warriors," Kadian had stated in the letter.