Singapore Airlines has announced that the employees who started receiving their pink slips from September 14 will continue to receive their salary until Dec 15 this year. They will also retain their medical and other benefits until then.

According to media reports, each affected employee will be paid in lieu of the notice period in their employment contract. This can be up to three months' salary.

Those who have been in service for two years or more will receive one month of pay for every year of service, capped at 25 months.

The retrenchment exercise - which affects about 2,400 staff - is being conducted at the SIA Training Centre, near Changi Airport, for Singapore-based staff.

SIA had announced that it would slash about 20 per cent of its headcount - about 4,300 positions - amid the COVID-19 pandemic that has paralyzed the air travel sector.

About 2,400 staff in Singapore and overseas will be retrenched, while the remaining 1,900 roles will be accounted for through natural attrition, recruitment freeze and voluntary-departure schemes.

The terms of the release package were explained individually to each affected staff. SIA also arranged for on-site counselors and medical staff, and provided transport to and from their homes. Union leaders were also present to provide support to the affected staff.

Employees who are currently overseas are being informed personally via telephone calls or teleconferencing by company representatives.

A portal listing available job vacancies in external companies has been created, with unions also providing support where possible.