Qantas hit with record fine for illegal layoffs during pandemic
Qantas, Australia's largest airline, has been hit with a record fine for illegally laying off ground staff during the COVID-19 pandemic. The airline was sued for dismissing hundreds of workers in 2020 as the aviation industry faced an unprecedented crisis. The Federal Court of Australia ruled that Qantas violated workplace laws by not properly consulting with employees before terminating their contracts. The court imposed a massive fine of $25 million on the airline, the largest penalty ever handed down for such a breach. The decision is a significant victory for the workers who lost their jobs, as well as a strong message to companies that they must follow proper procedures when making large-scale redundancies. The case highlights the challenges faced by the aviation industry during the pandemic and the importance of protecting worker rights, even in times of economic turmoil.
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