Fair Work Australia (FWA) has found that cabin crew recruited in Thailand are underpaid by as much as half of their minimum entitlements.

 

Fair Work Ombudsman said the pay rate is unacceptable and has requested the Federal Court to ban the practice. The Ombudsman has found Jetstar’s Thai employees should be paid double the amount they currently receive.

 

FWA commenced litigation last Friday involving eight foreign workers but, subject to the findings of the Court, the Ombudsman expects that number to grow to up to 300.

 

Facing Court is Singapore company Valuair Limited and Thai company Tour East (T.E.T.) Limited - companies which recruit cabin crew to work exclusively for Jetstar on both international and domestic flights.

 

Valuair and Tour East are part-owned by Qantas.

 

The Fair Work Ombudsman is seeking to have Valuair and Tour East reimburse the eight more than $7500 it alleges they are owed in back-pay. It is also seeking penalties against Jetstar Airways Pty Ltd.

 

The Fair Work Ombudsman alleges Jetstar Airways was knowingly a party to underpayment contraventions. It alleges Jetstar rosters the foreign cabin crews onto its Australian domestic flights and is aware of the rates they are being paid.