(PNA file photo by Cristina Arayata)
MANILA – Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) General Manager Eric Ines on Thursday clarified rumors circulating among workers worrying about their job security as operations of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) will be turned over to a private consortium in two weeks.
In an exclusive interview with the Philippine News Agency, Bert Bagtas, president of the Samahan ng mga Manggagawa ng Paliparan sa Pilipinas (SMPP), lamented that many of them have spent years at the MIAA and are holding permanent positions.
"What would happen to the workers after six months at the NNIC (New NAIA Infra Corp., the new operator of NAIA)? There is no security of tenure," he said.
He added that most of those who would transfer to NNIC are those involved in the operations because they are the ones knowledgeable to operate the airport. Bagtas expressed fear that once the NNIC has trained younger individuals, the older employees' contracts would not be renewed.
Ines, however, said that NNIC is required to absorb those who would like to transfer employment from the MIAA. However, they will have to undergo a six-month probationary period.
He also noted that it is up to the employees if they agree with the terms and conditions of the NNIC, and reiterated that it is also up to the employees to decide if they would transfer.
"Everyone has to undergo the six-month probationary status," Ines said, confirming the risk. He said many have opted to go with the NNIC, while some have decided at the last minute.
Aside from the airport police, Ines said, the MIAA would also retain those involved in administrative work.
Currently, the MIAA has 1,200 plantilla postions, which will be significantly reduced due to restructuring.
"We are awaiting the approval of the Governance Commission for GOCCs for the plantilla positions we requested," Ines said.
The airport chief noted that those who opted to stay with the MIAA would likewise be taking a risk, as no one knows how many plantilla posts would get the nod.
"If they stayed and the plantilla post they're supposed to be holding gets disapproved, then sorry to them," Ines said.
It was learned from another SMPP official that rumors have been circulating that many employees would lose their jobs as their contracts will automatically be terminated after Sept. 13.
"What some employees have been hearing is that we would no longer be receiving our salaries after Sept. 13," said the SMPP official who requested anonymity.
Ines clarified that such information did not come from the MIAA.
"It was probably the NNIC who talked to them – those who would transfer employment. Of course, their contracts (with MIAA) gets terminated as the turnover of operations to NNIC is on Sept. 14, and they would be getting their salaries from the NNIC," he said.
Finally, Ines belied Bagtas' claim that the workers were not fully informed of what would happen to them.
"Transferring is voluntary. They were informed about it, and there was a deadline set for them to decide," he said.
The NNIC, composed of San Miguel Holdings Corp., RMM Asian Logistics, Inc., RLW Aviation Development, Inc., and Incheon International Airport Corp., bagged the PHP170.6 billion public-private partnership project to operate and rehabilitate the NAIA by offering the biggest revenue share of 82.16 percent to the government. (PNA)
