9:48 am: The airline Cathay asks 27,000 employees to take a leave without pay
The CEO of the Hong Kong airline Cathay Pacific asked his 27,000 employees to take three weeks of unpaid leave on Wednesday to deal with the consequences of the new coronavirus epidemic. “I hope you all participate, from our front line employees (in contact with customers) to our senior management,” said Augustus Tang in an online video address.
This request highlights the economic difficulties encountered by Cathay, already a victim of the pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong which severely affected the use of its routes last year. “With such an uncertain outlook, saving our cash is now the key point to protect our business,” he said. “I realize it’s hard to hear,” he added. And we may need to take other steps. But by supporting this special leave, you will help us in these times of need ”.
Dozens of international companies have already reduced or suspended their links with mainland China, and some even with Hong Kong, in an attempt to curb the transmission of the coronavirus.
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