Following a three-month struggle, flight attendants of flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) are getting better work conditions—including longer job tenures—as the Labor Department on Thursday night announced that it has finally resolved the labor dispute between PAL employees and management. The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said in a statement that it has moved the compulsory retirement age of members of the Flight Attendants and Stewardess Association of the Philippines (FASAP) to 60 years from the present 40. "As she promised early this week, (DOLE) Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz ... resolved the three-month old assumption of jurisdiction (AJ) case involving the (FASAP) and (PAL)," the DOLE said in its website Thursday night. "She issued a decision that resolved the issues involving gender and discrimination in relation to compulsory retirement age, maternity and pregnancy leave benefits, and economic package comprising the general wage increases and raise in rice allowance benefiting the 1,542 FASAP members," the DOLE added. Baldoz said the 21-page resolution she issued aims to finish the row between PAL and FASAP. According to the DOLE, the provisions of Baldoz's resolution included:
Compulsory retirement age for all FASAP members at 60 years old; Two pregnancy leaves for a maximum of seven months for each leave, to be credited in computing the length of service for retirement, 13th month pay, Christmas bonus, rice allowance, and trip passes; Maternity leaves for a maximum of four (4) deliveries already being enjoyed shall likewise be credited in computing the length of service for retirement, 13th month pay, Christmas bonus, rice allowance, and trip passes; Prospective application of pregnancy and maternity leave crediting; Grant of monthly rice allowance in the amount of P1,800 for the period covering 16 July 2007 to 15 July 2010, estimated at P25 million; and Grant of three-year salary increases estimated at over P200 million. Last Sept. 9, FASAP filed a strike notice before the DOLE after claiming to have exhausted the negotiating process. FASAP accused PAL of "outdated sexist policies against its flight attendants." "PAL is guilty of age and gender discrimination. IN PAL, the other employees are allowed to work until 65 years old. The pilots' compulsory retirement age for both male and female is 60 years old. But for flight attendants, the compulsory retirement age is as young as 40 years old. Many say that 'Life begins at 40. In PAL, it ends at 40 years old.'" it said. Also, it scored PAL's pregnancy and maternity policies where flight attendants who get pregnant are placed on pregnancy leave without pay. The pregnancy leave is deducted from the flight attendant's years of service, FASAP said. "The flight attendants are being discriminated against, and it is the only employee group in PAL which were not granted pay increases in the past three years," it added. - KBK, GMANews.TV 
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