US DOJ Files Lawsuit Against SpaceX Alleging Discrimination
Lawsuit against SpaceX: The US Department of Justice (DOJ) has launched legal proceedings against SpaceX, owned by Elon Musk, citing alleged discriminatory practices against refugees and asylum seekers in its hiring procedures.
Inaccurate Claims About Hiring Non-US Citizens
The DOJ claims that SpaceX provided misleading information about its ability to hire individuals who are not US citizens.
Investigation Initiated by Allegations from a Foreign Worker.
The DOJ’s investigation into SpaceX was triggered by accusations of discriminatory practices made by a foreign worker.
SpaceX Declines to Comment
When approached for comment, SpaceX chose not to respond, as confirmed by the BBC.
Allegations of Discriminatory Hiring Practices
The DOJ alleges that SpaceX regularly discouraged refugees and asylees from applying for jobs and declined to consider them due to their citizenship status.
These practices are said to have occurred between September 2018 and May 2022.
Asylees’ Work Authorization and Rights
Asylees are individuals granted asylum, granting them the right to work in the US, acquire social security cards, request permission for international travel, and apply for family immigration.
SpaceX’s Defense Citing Export Control Laws
SpaceX defended its exclusive hiring stance by citing “export control laws” that it claimed limited them to hiring only US citizens and green card holders, according to the DOJ.
DOJ Contradicts SpaceX’s Defense
The DOJ contradicted SpaceX’s assertion, clarifying that the mentioned export control laws do not mandate such restrictive employment practices.
Wide Range of Excluded Positions.
The roles excluded from refugee and asylee applicants encompassed a broad spectrum, ranging from rocket engineering to culinary positions such as dishwashing and cooking.
DOJ Calls for Restitution
In response to the alleged discrimination, the DOJ has urged SpaceX to explore the possibility of compensating those who were unfairly denied employment opportunities.
Prior Instances of Alleged Discrimination.
This lawsuit is not the first time Elon Musk’s ventures have faced allegations of discriminatory behavior.
Recently, a group of former employees from the social media platform previously known as Twitter, now called X, filed a lawsuit asserting Mr. Musk’s involvement in discriminatory acts based on gender, age, and race.
Source: BBC