Jetstar Taken To Court Over Asian Crew Pay Claim

By Neville D'Cruz MELBOURNE, May 28 (Bernama) -- Jetstar is being taken to court for allegedly allowing cabin crew recruited from Thailand to be paid about half the rate of the budget airline's Australian staff. The Fair Work Ombudsman claimed the Thai crew working on Jetstar's domestic routes were owed thousands of dollars in back-pay, the Australian Associated Press reports. The Ombudsman would urge Australia's Federal Court to stop the alleged underpayments at a hearing on Aug 17, 2012. "While litigation commenced today involves just eight foreign workers, subject to the findings of the court, the Fair Work Ombudsman may take further action for up to 300 international cabin crew rostered across Jetstar's domestic routes," the Ombudsman said in a statement. Along with Jetstar, the Ombudsman's case involves two Asian recruitment firms part-owned by Jetstar's parent, Qantas. Valuair Ltd and Thai company Tour East Ltd recruited cabin crew to work exclusively for Jetstar on domestic and international flights. The Ombudsman wanted Valuair and Tour East to reimburse the eight Jetstar crew at the centre of the court case with over US$7,500 they were allegedly owed in back-pay. It is also seeking penalties against Jetstar. It alleged Jetstar rosters the foreign cabin crews on to its Australian domestic flights and was aware of the rates they were being paid. -- BERNAMA