Jet Lite Airlines, a unit of Jet Airways, has suddenly closed its operations and asked its 800 employees to sign up for a VSS (voluntary separation scheme) or be re-interviewed for their suitability to work with Jet Airways.

12th September was a doomsday for Jet Lite employees working in the company’s Delhi base. As workers working in the morning shift were about to leave for the day, they were called for an urgent meeting. Employees were told about the company’s position and asked to either accept a VSS or wait for an hour for a round of interviews, after which successful interviewees would get a job with Jet Airways. If they failed to clear this hurdle, they would get remuneration allotted as per VSS compensation. Legally, a company needs to give three months of prior intimation before bringing VSS in to the picture.

The same thing happened with workers at the Mumbai base, who were faced with a similar situation the following day, and asked to choose between the two options by lunchtime on the 14th. An ex-employee told IT Examiner: “I was almost shocked to hear about such movement, as for me it was the second time, first being the closure of Sahara airlines. Though I was assured of a job with Jet Airways, I decided to accept the VSS."

VSS remuneration ranges between one month and one year's salary. Those who have been working with the airline for over a year will be paid for 12 months; those who have six to 11 months work history will get six months of salary and those with less than that will get one month of payment.

The letter read: "As you are aware, the economic down trend has had an adverse affect on the general recession on the aviation industry and Jet Lite in particular, which has incurred heavy business loss. In order to make the company financially viable, the management has been compelled to take certain decision of downsizing the man power in certain areas”. 

It affirmed that employees will receive compensation of more than the amount they would receive if their services were terminated.

Jet Lite was started fifteen months ago, as a result of Sahara Airlines' takeover by Jet Airways. X