TAIPEI (Taiwan News) -- As some 2,000 of EVA Air's flight attendants continue to strike, the company announced that it plans on hiring male flight attendants, including foreigners, for the first time in its history.
EVA Air President Clay Sun (孫嘉明) at a shareholder's meeting today said that the airline plans to recruit more than 200 employees this year and that for the first time in its history, it plans on hiring male flight attendants, reported CNA. Sun said that the airline is already recruiting a total of 200 new employees, including foreigners, for its air and ground crews.
Sun said that Vietnamese aircrew members had already registered for training in mid-May but that training operations, among other plans, have been suspended because the instructors have been dispatched on flights to serve customers, according to the report. Sun pointed out that the first class of male recruits will be drawn from ground crew members, as they have already worked hard for the company and understand its corporate culture.
Sun emphasized that everything is currently in the planning stages. The company is still determining the training costs and pay rate for the new hires and training costs, but because of the strike, everything has been put on hold.
He stressed that both the job expectations and wages will be the same for male and female flight attendants, reported CNA. Sun said that he believes this is an important step in the progression of the company.