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Airlines : 75% of baggage handlers corruptible

17 March, 2010 06:05:00 SAPA

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Airlines : 75% of baggage handlers corruptible

Airlines were battling to bring luggage pilfering under control ahead of the World Cup, both Chris Smyth (acting SAA CEO) and Siza Mzimela (the outgoing CEO of SA Express who will take over from Smyth at SAA in April) have admitted.

"Pilferage is unfortunately not a pretty picture," Smyth told MPs. He said the airline has had to contend with two out of every 1000 bags handled being pilfered. He conceded this was "quite a lot higher than international averages".

He said the figures were brought down to below 1.5 bags per 1000 last year, but had risen progressively this year.

Smyth said it appeared that some 25 percent of luggage handling staff were dishonest, 25 percent honest and the rest corruptible.

Mzimela said SA Express was changing luggage handlers every six months because they turned to crime after a short period on the job.

"When you come to four, five months, they are already part of the problem."

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Comments (4 posted):

Joleen on 24 March, 2010 11:47:10

Hi
How about putting cameras in that department.
Lets work together SA. How will you feel if your luggage get stolen, come on lets show the world we are honest people. Not only for the soccer period but forever. Also put yourself in the other persons shoes and feel how you will feel coming from sofar and things are missing.
I say we cameras will do it and also the managers must talk to the members working at that department, you know we can achieve so much more if you can just be nice with one another. Maybe then our lives will flourish...

Glamgirl on 24 March, 2010 07:21:22

I do believe that the employers of these "dishonest", corruptible baggage handlers should be responsible for refunding any damage and pilfering suffered by travellers. It is only then that they will employ, place trustworthy people in those positions.

Bob on 17 March, 2010 09:14:41

The reason for the continuing baggage pilfering problem is because 'temporary' labour broking staff are used, and the rate they are paid is barely sufficient for them to pay for transport to get to work and home. How can you expect people who are unable to even put food on the table for their families despite the long shifts they work, not to be tempted to help themselves when the opportunity presents itself. This problem has been going on for years, and merely rotating workers every six months without acknowledging and dealing with the root cause is shortsighted, pointless and will never resolve the problem. Investigate how much of their wages, these labour broking staff actually have to live on after they've paid their transport costs, and you will turn your head in shame. One baggage handler actually phoned in to the Morning Live show last year when the baggage pilfering issue was being discussed and he said that if he didn't steal, he wouldn't be able to feed his family. Perhaps the airline should invest more money in paying these vital workers a liveable wage for starters?? Pilferage and theft is endemic amongst temp labour broking staff because of the poor rates they are paid - fact.

eish on 17 March, 2010 07:03:10

Won't you correct your header spelling?! Thanks.

Done - Ed.