Qantas using prisoners as cleaners - claimBy Peter Veness
March 13, 2007 12:03pm
QANTAS is using prisoners on day release from Singapore's Changi Prison to clean its planes, an Australian union claims.
The prisoners were employed to clean the flight deck ahead of safety inspections, Australian Licensed Aircraft Engineers Association federal secretary Steve Purvinas said.
Mr Purvinas made the claim during a parliamentary inquiry into the impact of the potential sale of Qantas on its budget subsidiary Jetstar.
"The prisoners are released under supervision and taken to the Qantas aircraft," Mr Purvinas said.
"The prisoners are used to wash down the wheel well bays before inspections, they're used to go upstairs into the flight deck of the aircraft and to clean the area out so it's ready for inspection by the local engineers."
Changi Prison houses Singapore's most serious criminal offenders, including those sentenced to death.
Melbourne drug-trafficker Nguyen Tuong Van was hanged at Changi in December 2005 after being convicted of trying to smuggle almost 400g of heroin through Singapore to Australia.
IInitiated by the Senate, the inquiry is looking at a bill proposed by Family First Senator Stephen Fielding that aims to offer the same protections to Jetstar that are offered to Qantas under the Qantas Sale Act.
Comment is being sought from Qantas.
March 13, 2007 12:03pm
QANTAS is using prisoners on day release from Singapore's Changi Prison to clean its planes, an Australian union claims.
The prisoners were employed to clean the flight deck ahead of safety inspections, Australian Licensed Aircraft Engineers Association federal secretary Steve Purvinas said.
Mr Purvinas made the claim during a parliamentary inquiry into the impact of the potential sale of Qantas on its budget subsidiary Jetstar.
"The prisoners are released under supervision and taken to the Qantas aircraft," Mr Purvinas said.
"The prisoners are used to wash down the wheel well bays before inspections, they're used to go upstairs into the flight deck of the aircraft and to clean the area out so it's ready for inspection by the local engineers."
Changi Prison houses Singapore's most serious criminal offenders, including those sentenced to death.
Melbourne drug-trafficker Nguyen Tuong Van was hanged at Changi in December 2005 after being convicted of trying to smuggle almost 400g of heroin through Singapore to Australia.
IInitiated by the Senate, the inquiry is looking at a bill proposed by Family First Senator Stephen Fielding that aims to offer the same protections to Jetstar that are offered to Qantas under the Qantas Sale Act.
Comment is being sought from Qantas.
