ASEAN Forum: Travel firms urged to protect workforce

Travel firms should refrain from cutting jobs because of the recession and look elsewhere to save money, says the head of the Pacific-Asia Travel Association. PATA president and chief executive Gregory Duffell appealed to bosses not to axe staff. He told the ASEAN Tourism Forum in Hanoi: “Every chief executive talks about their staff being their…

Travel firms should refrain from cutting jobs because of the recession and look elsewhere to save money, says the head of the Pacific-Asia Travel Association.

PATA president and chief executive Gregory Duffell appealed to bosses not to axe staff.

He told the ASEAN Tourism Forum in Hanoi: “Every chief executive talks about their staff being their company’s most important asset. Then they go to the board and show staff costs as a liability.”

Duffell insisted: “Companies should move staff from the liability to the asset-side of the balance sheet. Do not lay off staff – keep them.”

He added: “Certainly cut perks. Maybe negotiate cuts in salary, but keep your staff and empower them to cut costs.”