Airline crew are prohibited from moving freely in many places in the world. Singapore Airlines crew members are forbidden to leave their hotel rooms on layovers. To make sure they comply with regulations, the carrier is now requesting that they wear a tracking device for the duration of their stay.
There has been an array of incidents with airline crew as a result of COVID precaution regulations. A KLM flight attendant was arrested in Singapore for leaving their hotel room in mid-December.
An EVA Air pilot was fired after bringing the virus back to Taiwan from the US and failing to comply with the authorities’ track-and-trace efforts just before Christmas. There is also the infamous case of China requesting that flight attendants wear nappies on board to avoid using the lavatory.
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No interaction amongst themselves
In the latest bid to stop the chance of any imported COVID cases to the city-state, Singapore Airlines is increasing its employee surveillance. According to The Straits Times, flight crew from the airline that need to stay overseas will have to wear a tracking device.
This is reportedly to make certain that they comply with a rule requiring them to remain in their hotel rooms at all times. They are also prohibited from physically interacting with one another during the layover period.
“If you fly for 16 to 18 hours to reach New York then have to stay in a room alone, it can be quite tough… but the crew understand that this is necessary,” Alan Tan, President of the Singapore Airlines Staff Union, commented.
“There are some concerns about the imported cases from overseas on flights, but it is part of our job. Crew members can take leave if they are not comfortable to fly,” he continued, further adding that flight crew had thus far been compliant with the rules.
Three tests and seven days of isolation
