Republic of the Philippines

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE RESOLUTION No. 194

INTRODUCED by Reps. TEDDY A. CASIÑO and NERI JAVIER COLMENARES

RESOLUTION
DIRECTING THE COMMITTEE ON LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT TO CONDUCT
AN INVESTIGATION, IN AID OF LEGISLATION, ON THE ALLEGED
DISCRIMINATORY AND INHUMANE REGULATIONS OF THE PHILIPPINE
AIRLINES AGAINST ITS FLIGHT ATTENDANTS AND STEWARDS

WHEREAS, the Lucio Tan-owned Philippine Air Lines (PAL) is now being confronted with
simultaneous labor disputes apparently caused by persistent poor working conditions. Several pilots
have recently quit due to low pay and arbitrary management policies. Flight attendants are set to strike
on grounds of age and gender discrimination and have refused the management's P80 million
settlement package. Meanwhile, its ground employees continue to protest the spinoff of some of the
airline’s crucial operations resulting in the termination and contractualization of its employees;

WHEREAS, PAL flight attendants have been particularly affected by the company's labor policies.
Contrary to the standards of international airlines and competing local airlines, PAL has been
implementing a regressive and discriminatory retirement age limit for its flight attendants set at 45
years for those hired after 1996 and 40 years for those hired after 2000;

WHEREAS, Cebu Pacific, Zest Air and other local carriers follow the Labor Code’s voluntary
retirement age of 60 and compulsory retirement age of 65. In the United States, a 2009 study by the
Population Reference Bureau showed that the median age of flight attendants is older than that of all
U.S. workers. Over the decades since the 1980s, the median age has gone up from 30 in 1980
to 44 in 2007;

WHEREAS, early retirement has great repercussions on an attendant’s economic situation. One will
have a hard time applying for long term applications like housing loans because they will be out of
gainful occupation during the last years of the loan. Although they retire early, they have to wait until
they reach 60 to claim their pension from the Social Security Service;

WHEREAS, PAL likewise compels its flight attendants to undergo pregnancy leave without pay.
Starting on the third month, a pregnant flight attendant will have to exhaust all her leaves and accrued
day-off. To make it worse, the pregnancy leave is deducted from the employee’s years of service,
reducing her already stunted retirement pay. On the other hand, paternity leave accorded to male
stewards does not affect attendance. The pregnancy leave also suspends the monthly rice subsidy and
travel benefits of the attendant’s family;

WHEREAS, the Flight Attendants’ and Stewards’ Association of the Philippines (FASAP) disclosed
that before being allowed to fly again, the management requires those coming from maternity leave to
revert back and meet PAL’s desired weight and look. PAL’s forced retirement at 40 and the
“grooming standards” point only to discrimination based on appearance. Flight attendants and
stewards are safety professionals and should not anymore be associated with antiquated sexist
stereotypes;

WHEREAS, unlike other PAL employees who have been granted salary increases, the rate of flight
attendants and stewards have remained unchanged since their Collective Bargaining Agreement
expired in 2007;

WHEREAS, the labor problem in the national flag carrier is of national interest and urgency. Its
resolution will set a precedent for labor disputes to come. It is the duty of the state to side with PAL
workers in their legitimate struggle for just wages, job security and humane working conditions;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, AS IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED, that the

Committee on Labor and Employment conduct an investigation, in aid of legislation, on the alleged
discriminatory and inhumane regulations of the Philippine Airlines against its flight attendants and
stewards.

Adopted,

TEDDY A. CASIÑO NERI JAVIER COLMENARES

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