SINGAPORE: Singapore women wanting to enter the flight attendant sector received positive news this week, allowing them to work longer, highlighting what women’s rights advocates say is a step in the right direction. “It makes women have more power in their professional careers and no longer is flying and working on a plane the right of only a certain look,” said one activist, telling Bikyamasr.com that there “remains many hindrances for women in the country, but we are on the right path.” Under the new agreement signed by Singapore Airlines (SIA) and the Singapore Airlines Staff Union, junior stewardesses – who usually start working at 23 – can fly for up to 20 years from 17 years previously, SIA said. Those promoted to leading and chief stewardess rank can serve for up to 25 and 30 years respectively, up from 23 and 28 years previously. The new rules also apply to male cabin crew who joined after 2004. Men who signed up before 2004 are allowed to work until they are 62. The new agreement, which came into effect on May 9, “allows us to offer longer employment terms for all our employees,” the airline said in an email to AFP. “At the same time, it will also help us to retain experienced cabin crew.” The airline’s flight attendants, who it has referred to as “Singapore Girls” since the 1970s, have long played a central role in the airline’s advertising campaigns, despite critics labeling the marketing as outdated and sexist. Frequent winners of travel industry awards for cabin crew service, the flight attendants are recruited from several Asian countries and wear distinctive uniforms with batik prints. “People are living longer and starting families later, so the aim is to make sure our people stay employed longer,” the Straits Times newspaper quoted SIA staff union president Tony Sim as saying. Source: Bikya Masr
