Labour shortage: Rehire airline pilots & staff with S44

With shortage of skilled airline pilots & staff that tourism sector relies on, recall from retirement with Section 44 best strategy.

AVIATION & LABOUR SHORTAGES

Pilot shortage: Retired airline staff recall with Section 44

7/09/2016
Amornrat Mahitthirook

The government is considering using Section 44 again, this time to bring back retired pilots and other skilled airline staff to make up for a labour shortage.

In case you missed it, Thailand is an ageing or greying society with older people and retired people making up an increasing proportion of the population. Improved healthcare means people live longer and younger people are choosing to have smaller families or no children at all.

Over time this means looming labour shortages in many sectors of the economy.

Thailand also has a very young retirement age compared to other countries. Germany, for instance, is gradually increasing the retirement age to age 67 and some suggested going even further to age 69, but German Chancellor Angela Merkel said 67 is old enough.

Add to that with an educational system that often cannot produce enough skilled professionals (such as pilots) needed to fill the available positions, at least at the wage rate being offered, together with laws that restrict foreigners from filling those positions and all one can do it throw up your hands in despair and declare: something has to give, one of these numerous constraints on Thai labour markets just has to be relaxed.

PROBLEM: SKILLED AVIATION WORKER SHORTAGE

Tourism is an important sector in the Thai economy and the airline industry is an essential part of this sector.

The problem of a lack of qualified airline captains and pilots, flight engineers, ground crew, pilots for specialised aircraft and pilot instructors has been acknowledged by the government.

SOLUTION: REHIRE RETIRED SKILLED PROFESSIONALS

The solution proposed by the airlines themselves is to rehire skilled professionals.

The airline industry needs the help of the governent, however, since the legal retirement age is 60 and a legal exemption from the law is necessary.

Section 44 has been proposed as the solution (see here).

Some people do not like Section 44 but what alternative is there to old laws that cannot adapt so that Thailand can compete in the modern world economy?  

FORMAL ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION, CUTTING ADMINISTRATIVE RED TAPE 

Deputy Prime Minister Prajin Juntong is considering asking Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, in his capacity as head of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), to invoke Section 44 to allow retired, qualified people to be rehired by government agencies and state enterprises involved with aviation for set periods.

According to ACM Prajin, this would address the problem of a lack of qualified aviation professionals. Another alternative would be for the cabinet to issue an executive decree for the same purpose.

Chula Sukmanop, acting director of the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand, said the measure will speed up a legal amendment process that may take months to complete.

He said the proposed measure, set for 2016-2019, should ease difficulties as the training of pilots and staff will be completed to meet demand.

AIRLINE INDUSTRY REACTION

Thai Airways International (THAI) and budget subsidiary Thai Smile Airways have welcomed the proposed use of Section 44.

Woranate Laprabang, acting CEO of Thai Smile Airways, said the proposal is a good start to solve the growing personnel shortage in the aviation industry.

NO RESPONSE TO REQUESTS TO EXTEND RETIREMENT AGE

He said the company has petitioned authorities concerned to extend the retirement age to 65 but to no avail.

While Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand regulations stipulate the retirement age at 65, the compulsory retirement age for state enterprise staff is 60.

"The 60-year-old pilots are considered top-quality and highly experienced personnel. They are sought after by commercial airlines who don't have to train their own," he said.

Mr Woranate said the aviation industry has expanded rapidly and competition for highly experienced pilots is fierce.

THAI president Charamporn Jotikasthira said the proposed measure is hoped to solve the pilot shortage problem in the face of fierce competition in the aviation industry.


http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/politics/1079952/thai-praises-use-of-s44-for-pilot-shortage

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