Airline
Ryanair: The COVID-19 does not excuse the non-respect of basic labour rights!

Airline
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Brussels, 26 May 2020
The Belgian Cockpit Association (BeCA), the professional organisation representing airline pilots in Belgium, is denouncing Ryanair’s unacceptable social practices and urges the airline to respect its obligations under the Belgian labour law and to become (finally!) a socially responsible company.
After numerous letter exchanges between BeCA and Ryanair over the past weeks, it has become evident that discussions are in a dead-end. While the company is publicly complaining about the financial impact of the coronavirus crisis and the State aid granted to several of its competitors in Europe, its financial results and its operational prospects published last week look very promising. But its flying crew is still waiting for the regularisation of its unemployment situation and the respect of its most basic rights. Several essential questions remain unanswered, despite our repeated requests:
The crisis that we are experiencing today is unprecedented. Ryanair’s crews acknowledge this fully and are the first victims. But this virus can in no way serve as an excuse to Ryanair to bypass the Belgian labour law and exert pressure in order to infringe the commitments it has taken as part of several collective labour agreements. It is high time that the airline becomes a socially responsible employer and respects its employees and their basic rights, not only its shareholders’ interests.
Contact person (from 11.00, 26 May):
Alain Vanalderweireldt (President) : + 32.476.93.24.10