Japan Press Weekly

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2013 August 21 - 27 [LABOR]

ANA sees merit in offering full-time positions to CAs

Elimination of a system of hiring cabin attendants under one-year contracts indicates that the accumulation of experience under full-time employment gives airline companies high merit.

Japanese airlines, including All Nippon Airways (ANA) and Japan Airlines (JAL), in 1995 introduced the system under which workers hired as cabin attendants with renewable one-year contracts will be offered full-time positions after three years of service.

At that time, the Japan Federation of Cabin Attendants consisting of each company’s cabin crew unions opposed the introduction on the grounds that cabin crew who also have to work as security staff needed the accumulation of experience.

It has been 18 years since the introduction of the system. ANA on August 19 announced that it will change employment practices regarding its cabin attendants from contract to full-time positions in the next fiscal year.

Citing that cabin attendants play a primary role in ensuring cabin safety, Japan’s second largest airline company said that its decision to hire cabin attendants as full-time workers will contribute to securing highly qualified cabin crew amid the growing competition among the airline industry.

In contrast, flagship carrier JAL unfairly dismissed a contract cabin attendant and many veteran cabin attendants. These laid-off workers are waging court battles against the company.

The cabin attendants’ federation commenting on ANA’s decision said that while cabin attendants of foreign and low-cost airlines work under fixed-term contracts, the decision “is an important step and will positively affect other carriers”.

It also expressed its determination to work hard to push all Japanese airline companies to use full-time cabin attendants.