Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Sarah Jane Lebrasse
Published on 2024-04-01 14:00:17
In a climate of repeated problems shaking Air Mauritius, shocking revelations highlight the excessive privileges granted to flight attendant Kiran Balgobin, wife of Anbamnikhan, a controversial and contested senior executive of the airline, who has been transferred since Charles Cartier took over as the head of the company, following the departure of Air Mauritius’ Board of Directors CEO of Airports of Mauritius, Ken Arian. Documents obtained by our editorial team paint a troubling picture of favoritism and preferential treatment within the national airline.
Extended unpaid leave and inappropriate assignment
Kiran Balgobin was supposed to return to work on March 26, 2024 after a period of extended unpaid leave following mandatory maternity leave. However, she did not adhere to this date, choosing to be absent for an indefinite period to accompany her husband on a mission to London Gatwick. Documents reveal that before this departure, she had expressed in a letter – addressed to the personnel department – her intention to change her assignment to temporarily work in the cargo services department, in order to take care of her son, due to the inability to find a nanny, a completely inappropriate decision for someone employed as cabin crew. The HR response letter seemed to give credence to this new assignment, which no other flight attendant would normally be entitled to, leading to widespread frustration among the flight crew who suggest being disappointed to make sacrifices, “while others have it easy.”
Luxurious trip at the company’s expense
The scandal escalates when her colleagues discover that Kiran Balgobin traveled to London with her husband and their child, enjoying fully sponsored business class tickets by the company occupying seats 1F and 1E, while the son is placed in 117. This revelation raises questions about how an employee on unpaid leave can benefit from such preferential treatment and privileges, while other staff of similar status do not. This trip was taken while the human resources department had not yet firmly responded to her previous request for transfer and return to work on March 26. It is not known at this stage if she took additional leave without pay and if she benefited from additional tickets from her husband since some claim that she is not entitled to free tickets while on leave.
Indefinite absence…
Indeed, it is as the wife of the national airline executive, Anba Manikhan, that Kiran Balgobin and her son enjoyed these business class travel benefits until at least April 12. However, it is undoubtedly as such that she was able to benefit from this new leave – assuming she requested it! – raising concerns and anger about the ethics of the situation. This, in a context where no flight attendant or employee of her status would normally be able to obtain such a substantial extension of unpaid leave, or choose an arbitrary assignment that does not correspond to her duties, let alone benefit from such travel privileges.
Double standards
This case highlights a blatant injustice within Air Mauritius. While Kiran Balgobin and her family enjoy luxurious business trips and extended unpaid leave, other employees must deal with strict policies, frantic operation schedules, and less favorable working conditions.
As allegations of preferential treatment towards Kiran Balgobin continue to surface, it is imperative that Air Mauritius takes steps to restore fairness and transparency within the company for the well-being, which is a motto of the new CEO. Employees deserve fair treatment and consistent application of leave, salary, and favor policies for all.
This new scandal underscores the need for deep internal reform at Air Mauritius to avoid future favoritism and restore the trust of employees and the public in the national airline.
Read the original article(French) on Le Mauricien
