Singapore Airlines (SIA), which is not spared from the worsening economic crisis, has been asking its pilots to go for unpaid leave – up to 4 days every month.

As the airline is bracing for recession impact, it has decided to cut down its operational expenditures, and increase the number of planes grounded. With less frequent flying, it is now facing the problem of manpower excess.

According to the Malaysian Insider report, captains are asked to take 3 days off, while first officers are advised to take 4 days of leave.

Discussion between the company and the crew representatives are still on-going, and it is not entirely sure if the pilots would eventually agree to the move. As far as other employees are concerned, more than 1,000 people, mostly the ground workers have already volunteered to be part of the progressive leave program.

At the moment, senior managers are working on a shorter monthly period, and other managers are set to follow similar steps.

Despite being South East Asia’s richest nation, Singapore became the earliest country in Asia to have slumped into recession. As the global crunch bites, its export industry, which contributes a big chunk of the country’s revenue, suffered heavy decline and accelerated its fall further.