SAS goes on trial in Denmark over Asian air hostess hires

0 Comments | AFP, March, 2008

COPENHAGEN (AFP) — Scandinavian airline SAS went on trial in Copenhagen on Wednesday for hiring Chinese and Japanese flight attendants without Danish work permits.

The company stands accused of employing 65 Asian airline hostesses (34 Chinese and 31 Japanese citizens) without Danish work permits since 2005.

The prosecution is calling for SAS to pay a fine of two million kroner (268,500 euros, 407,600 dollars), and for an additional five million kroner, it says the airline saved by paying the flight attendants sub-standard wages, to be confiscated from the company.

Following pressure from the unions, the Danish Ministry of Refugee, Immigration and Integration Affairs decided in 2006 to file suit against SAS, which is partially state-owned, for violating...