Jakarta –
The tragedy of the death of an Eva Air flight attendant named Sun (34) caused anger and empathy from the Taoyuan workers union. They asked the Taiwan Ministry of Labor to immediately conduct an investigation.
Sun is thought to have died from work exhaustion on Wednesday (8/10/2025). The airline still asked for Sun’s leave letter even though he had passed away. The Taoyuan Flight Attendants Union, which represents EVA Air crew, criticized the airline’s strict sick leave policy.
According to the flight attendant union, this policy indirectly pressures staff to work even when they are sick, as quoted from Aviation on Saturday (18/10/2025). The union also highlighted that the design of the furlough system is punitive.
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Taking sick leave can change a crew member’s entire flight schedule, which can negatively impact the annual performance review. Furloughs also risk reducing bonus eligibility.
Sun colleagues also urged executives to show greater empathy for crew illnesses and revamp attendance management. In response to complaints about Eva Air’s regulations, Taiwan’s Ministry of Labor is investigating the truth of the situation.
If found guilty, the airline could face significant fines for violating labor protection standards. Previously, Eva Air claimed that this policy could actually prevent sick employees from working.
The case has reignited global debate about the management of crew health. Flight attendants are asked to be physically fit, always alert to handle emergencies on flights, and must not be sick.
In fact, flight attendants are very vulnerable to health problems due to long, irregular working hours, often being in cabins at certain pressures and altitudes. This condition of course has an impact on the body’s immunity and delays recovery.
Aviation experts are calling on airlines to modernize flight crew welfare policies, transparency of sick leave systems, better access to in-flight medical consultations and greater flexibility for flight crew recovery.
The EVA Air tragedy is believed to be a wake-up call for airlines around the world to re-evaluate how they balance operational demands with employee welfare.
(bnl/row)
