Mon, 18 Aug 2025

Mon, 18 Aug 2025 Qantas hit with record fine for illegal layoffs during pandemic

Australia's biggest airline was sued for firing ground staff in 2020 as aviation came to a standstill.
Qantas, Australia's largest airline, has been fined a record A$90 million for illegally sacking over 1,800 ground workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Transport Workers' Union welcomed the penalty, which is the largest imposed by an Australian court under industrial relations laws. Qantas has agreed to pay the fine and accepts responsibility for actions that caused harm to its employees. The airline's CEO, Vanessa Hudson, apologized to the affected workers and their families, acknowledging that the decision to outsource was a mistake, particularly during a time of uncertainty. The fine is the largest penalty issued to an Australian company under the Fair Work Act, which sets out rules for workers and employees. Qantas was also ordered to pay A$50 million directly to the Transport Workers' Union, which had sued the airline over the layoffs.
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