More than 200 TransAsia Airways employees gathered in front of Taiwan’s Ministry of Labor on Thursday morning to protest against the airline’s sudden shutdown, the Liberty Times newspaper has reported.
Taiwan’s oldest surviving airline was dissolved, without notice, following a board meeting on Tuesday. All of its shares and flights were suspended and more than 1,700 employees are to be laid off. The company had been losing money since 91 people died in two crashes, in 2014 and 2015.
Employees are questioning the shutdown, with the airline proposing several appeals relating to compensation, job reallocations and what to do with trust fund cash. They also demanded that the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) to hold labor-management negotiations. The airline has yet to respond.
MOJ Vice Minister Chen Ming-tang has said the government supports a freeze on TransAsia’s US$37.57 million trust fund. Half of the fund will be used for compensation to the airline’s employees, he said, with the other half going towards refunds for customers and travel agencies.
TransAsia was one of the main carriers serving Taiwan’s domestic market and its dissolution is expected to have a serious impact on travel within the country, especially to and from the offshore county Penghu: 40% of Penghu flights were operated by the company.
According to the Central News Agency, Taiwan’s Yuan – its executive – reiterated on Thursday that China Airlines, a Taipei-based international carrier, will take over all domestic and international routes temporarily.
Cabinet spokesperson Hsu Kuo-yung said on Wednesday that the Financial Supervisory Commission (FSC) had launched an investigation into possible insider trading in the company’s shares.
The new Taiwan administration were voted in by its unrealistic promised to cut down unsavory mainland Chinese tourists and paying more effort to other nation in the region. They get what they wanted just six months into their meddling. Yes they may get extra business in the importation of Fukushima agricultural produce in its haste to increase trade with other trading partner. Looks like this will be the trend unless they can get enough GOOD tourists from elsewhere.
After TransAsia Airways was shut down after heavy losses in 2012 and 2014’s stituation, so there are a large number of people change to use other airways to travel. So, TransAsia has to close down but there are group of employees call for therir compemsations. Personaaly, the airline should directly handle with this situation in order to response for employees life situation.