Jet Airways Ltd. Chief Executive Vinay Dube said it is painful that there is no commitment on the part of stakeholders on paying salaries to the employees, which are due in a few days.
The now grounded airline has not paid March salaries to its over 20,000 employees. Jet ceased operations on April 17. April salary is due in a few days.
The airline suspended operations after the State Bank of India-led consortium of lenders rejected its demand for a Rs 983-crore lifeline to help carry out operations and pay employees their March salaries.
“While we will continue to support the bank's bid to find a buyer for the airline, it pains us to communicate that no clarity or commitment on salaries has been provided by any of our stakeholders so far,” Dube said in a communication to employees on Friday.
On Friday, the employees had planned to take out a peace walk towards the venue of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's election rally in BKC, Mumbai, but was cancelled at the last minute on request from the police and the state government.
“While on one hand, we are being told to preserve the value of Jet Airways during the bid process, on the other hand, with no salary payment, some of our colleagues have no choice but to find employment elsewhere,” Dube said in the letter.
“When we highlight the disappointing irony of this situation to the lenders, we are simply told that this problem is to be addressed by the shareholders, who should and could have agreed on a resolution plan a long time ago.”
He also said though there have been many board meetings, there was no favourable outcome on funding and paying salaries so far.
"We have also approached the government at the highest levels seeking intervention and assistance but that too has not yielded any positive results," he added.
Dube also said in the past few days the leadership team is trying to convince the lenders to release some funds to the employees, while continuing to support the bank-led bid sale process.
"We have told them repeatedly that our employees are facing grave hardships owing to non-payment of salaries and that if this were to continue any longer, our employees will have no option but to find employment elsewhere.
"Unfortunately, the banks have said they are unable to make any salary commitments, until after the bidding process is complete," he said.
Essential Business Intelligence, Continuous LIVE TV, Sharp Market Insights, Practical Personal Finance Advice and Latest Stories — On NDTV Profit.
