KUALA LUMPUR, June 2 (Xinhuanet) -- Malaysia Airlines (MAS) has further relaxed its conditions on stewardesses in line with the country's policy to review all laws and regulations discriminating against women, local newspaper reported Thursday.

    MAS stewardesses can now have up to three children instead of two, and those at the supervisory level are allowed to perform ground duties after 45 years of age. Currently, only some stewardesses selected by the management can do so while the rest have to retire after 45.

    Gratuity payment for stewardesses who retire after 40 has been raised from 600 ringgit (157 US dollars) for every year of service to 1,000 ringgit (263 US dollars).

    These are among the new provisions included in the MAS terms ofservice for its cabin crew following negotiations between its management and the Malaysian Airlines System Employees Union.

    Transport Minister Chan Kong Choy said the letter of exchange between MAS and the union was signed on May 3.

    "With this latest revision, the benefits provided by MAS for its cabin crew are the best in this region. Some airlines do not even allow their stewardesses to become pregnant at all, " Chan told reporters Wednesday.

    The review was undertaken by MAS and the union following pressure by several non-governmental organizations, including the All Women's Action Society, the National Council of Women's Organizations and the Women's Development Collective, Chan said.

    "We hope the new provisions will give the MAS cabin crew incentive to further raise the standard of their performance so that the airline can maintain its good record in this category," Chan said.

    Women, Family and Social Development Minister Shahrizat Abdul Jalil welcomed the new provisions as a "realistic" improvement.

    MAS, which currently employs 2,150 stewardesses, is one of the few airlines in the region which allow stewardesses to have children and to serve until they are 40, and 45 for those at supervisory level.     Enditem