Fear of enterprises to follow suit after massive Cathay layoffs

Cathay’s massive laid off might set off a domino effect, with enterprises to follow suit, said Civic Party lawmaker Jeremy Tam Man-ho, also a former pilot at Cathay Pacific.

The former pilot said Cathay still made the decision to eliminate 8,500 jobs and laying off over 5,300 staff in Hong Kong after being funded HK$29 billion by the government and receiving financial aid through the Employment Support Scheme, worried that other enterprises will follow suit.

He questioned why staff were not allowed to go on furlough before considering firing them, which staff could still go back to their jobs when the industry is starting to recover.

Tam also pointed out that the government has appointed two observers to the board of Cathay Pacific Airways as part of the HK$29 billion bailout plan offered to them, claiming the government should also be responsible for monitoring the decision.