Gulf businessman books charter flight to fly staff to Kerala, becomes a hero
ERNAKULAM: R. Harikumar, a Dubai-based businessman, is a now a hero among Kerala’s three million-strong expat network. His 120 staffers, distressed over the coronavirus pandemic, flew back to the southern state in a chartered flight booked by the businessman free of cost on Sunday.
Those who returned will be still treated as employees. Harikumar has reportedly given them a three-month off to employees. They will be paid a month’s salary. They have also been assured return tickets and allowed an option to work from the Coimbatore unit of Harikumar’s Elite Group of Companies.
Besides the 120 employees, the Sharjah-Kochi flight accommodated those registered under the covid-19 task force of All Kerala College Alumni Forum (Akcaf), an expat Malayalee network, and 50 people who were stranded outside the airport without money to buy tickets.
