TOKYO: All Nippon Airways will introduce a system in April that allows employees to take leave for up to two years for any reason, it was learned Tuesday.

Eligible for the long-term leave system are some 15,000 employees, almost all of ANA‘s workforce, informed sources said. Employees on leave under the system will be unpaid while 200,000 yen in financial aid will be provided if they take leave for a year or longer, according to the sources.

With the system, the core unit of ANA Holdings Inc. aims to cut labor costs as the group has been hit hard by the novel coronavirus crisis.

The cash aid will be given only in fiscal 2021, which starts in April. Social security costs of employees on leave will be paid by the airline.

Employees can take leave of between one month and five months, one year, 18 months or two years.

The new system, created by reorganizing ANA‘s leave system of up to one year for employees studying abroad or taking infertility treatment, is separate from its maternity and child care leave systems.

ANA Holdings expects to report a record consolidated net loss of 510 billion yen in fiscal 2020. It plans to save 250 billion yen in fiscal 2021 by downsizing its fleet and cutting labor costs.

JIJI Press