Emirates Airline says its policies regarding female cabin crew are “generous” after Middle East carriers were criticised for their rules on marriage and pregnancy.

The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) last week labelled Qatar Airways “the worst for women’s rights among airlines“, as cabin crew are forbidden from marrying during the first five years of employment

While female Emirates cabin crew have to leave if they become pregnant during their first three years, the company says staff are not being harshly treated.

“I think we are very generous in this respect,” said Boutros Boutros, the head of corporate communications at Emirates Airline.

“It costs nearly Dh100,000 to recruit and train each member of cabin crew. In the first three years the cabin crew start working in economy to gain experience. That’s why we say ok for the first three years you cannot be pregnant because you cannot be out of service and you cannot be working in the air if you are pregnant. We don’t have much work to give them on the ground.”

Cabin crew who have been employed by Emirates for more than three years have the option of taking paid maternity leave.

But for those who become pregnant during their first three years, alternative work cannot be guaranteed, according to Mr Boutros.

“We try to accommodate cabin crew in this position (ground work) but you cannot guarantee it all the time because we have 18,000 of them. It’s not like an airline which employs 500 people. At the end of the day we have a business to run.”

ioxborrow@thenational.ae

lbarnard@thenational.ae

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COMPANY PROFILE

Name: HyperSpace

 

Started: 2020

 

Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez

 

Based: Dubai, UAE

 

Sector: Entertainment 

 

Number of staff: 210 

 

Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners

Squid Game season two

Director: Hwang Dong-hyuk 

Stars:  Lee Jung-jae, Wi Ha-joon and Lee Byung-hun

Rating: 4.5/5

The specs

Engine: 1.5-litre 4-cylinder petrol

Power: 154bhp

Torque: 250Nm

Transmission: 7-speed automatic with 8-speed sports option 

Price: From Dh79,600

On sale: Now

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MATCH INFO

Uefa Champions League semi-finals, first leg
Liverpool v Roma

When: April 24, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Anfield, Liverpool
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 2, Stadio Olimpico, Rome

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