26 Thai Airways Staff Accused Of Faking Death For Funeral Allowance

Show some sympathy for them! For over a year they get paid only 30% of their base salary — without any allowances, and without the significant “flight bonus” (don’t know the official term in English). Some aren’t allowed to resign from their jobs because then TG forfeits their pensions

@ Endre -- Except this dates as far back as 2013. I was initially sympathetic about the whole thing when I assumed this had all happened during the current pandemic (not that it excuses what they did), but that doesn't seem to be the case.

Gives new meaning to the phrase "dead man walking".

If I read correctly, the perpetrators defrauded an employee cooperative, not Thai Airways the company. In other words, they defrauded other members of the Cooperative which presumably are other Thai Airways employees. A Cooperative is a separate entity from the airline. In SE Asia, it is normal to have an Employee Cooperative formed within company with a large number of workforce. The Cooperative collects monthly dues from members and usually acts as a hybrid credit union / insurance company.

Insert zombie joke...

My mind went to the amount! $18,000 USD!

Most senior AA flight attendants would actually qualify.

Thailand's lèse-majesté statutes prevent me from commenting.
Having said that, I love it here.

–JRL

I guess this is to be expected with all the corruption that exists within the business. I know that they are paid quite poorly but this just begs disbelief -

Now I understand why they are more expensive than any other airline flying from Europe to BKK. They need the money to pay for those allowances.

I have zero sympathy for these lowlifes; they give their decent and honest colleagues, of whom there are many, a bad reputation. TG FAs are on a very good wicket: salaries are very substantial by local standards, and remarkably...probably unsustainably...generous with the seniority system.
Unfortunately a few crooks have learned from their corrupt senior management just how easy it is to milk the system.
It’s the LCC FAs in Thailand who are more deserving of our sympathy: eg, those flying for Jetstar , BKK-MEL-BKK, are on a pittance minimum wage, ‘dining’ on instant noodles in a dumpy airport motel on their layovers.

I just want to know who the other @Endre is, thas all, Endre

So, even if true, it's likely that death benefits are run by a different arm of the company that didn't cross-check against payroll registers. It isn't an application you submit to your immediate supervisor and then show up to work the next week! Also, these folks aren't likely stewardesses working in business class cabins (as the picture implies) and could be low wage baggage handlers or airport staff making $5000 a year. Doesn't justify anything but that's several years' salary.

@David
Gives new meaning to the phrase “dead man walking”, I would consider it

Dead Man WORKING!

Love how you have a pic of their business class cabin with the following caption: "Over two dozen Thai Airways staff have allegedly faked their death"

I mean sure, why not...