Fresh from defeat in a sex discrimination case last month, Cathay Pacific was yesterday hit with a similar lawsuit involving six former flight attendants.
The female attendants are suing the airline in the District Court for unspecified damages for alleged sexual discrimination under a former retirement policy. The Equal Opportunities Commission filed a writ on behalf of Anne Cano-Shearer, Julielu Gutierrez, Lilibeth Almariego, Evelyn Mussab, Goh Sock Fung and Gina Halili.
They are asking the court to declare the airline 'engaged in conduct, or committed an act, that is unlawful under the Sex Discrimination Ordinance'.
Also being sought are damages for lost income. Ms Goh, who lives in Malaysia, is further seeking an order that Cathay Pacific rehire her.
The six are taking on their former employer for allegedly forcing them to retire at least 10 years earlier than their male counterparts.
The plaintiffs left at 40 - the compulsory retirement age for female attendants that Cathay enforced when they joined the airline. Male attendants retired at 55.
