PHOTO: AFP
"Qatar Airways has been shamed into action, and that’s a tremendous advance," President of International Transport Workers Federation (ITF), Paddy Crumlin said.
“No amount of hiding behind ‘best airline’ awards has kept the truth about how staff are treated from emerging," he added.
After confirmation of the move by Qatar Airways, the ITF said that the move was a ‘first victory’ for the staff, while adding that it “will continue to campaign for further change and respect for workers’ rights.”
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Appreciating the staff who he thought were brave for coming forward, Crumlin said, "we, along with everyone who works for the airline, hope that they will now address what many of those workers call the ‘climate of fear’ at Qatar Airways. There’s much to be done, but the airline has made one step towards it."
Other strict laws such as only fathers, brothers and husbands being allowed to pick up staff members from the airport are expected to remain in place for now.
Although the UN’s ILO called on the company to scrap the discriminatory laws of terminating pregnant women from jobs a spokesperson for the airline said “Our policies have evolved with the airline’s growth."
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The new regulations would allow women who become pregnant to get temporary ground jobs and staff may get married after notifying the company.
“We will provide an opportunity for someone to continue working in a ground position,” the spokesperson claimed.
The airline won the 'Airline Of The Year' award for the third time at the annual Skytrax world awards at the Paris air show.
This article originally appeared on NEWS.COM.AU
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