EasyJet fined £1.3m over staff contracts

BUDGET airline EasyJet was yesterday ordered to pay more than 1.5 million (£1.3m) after a French court ruled it broke employment laws, setting a precedent for future disputes in the low-cost sector.

The case centred on 170 staff who worked at Orly airport in Paris between 2003 and 2006 and were hired under UK contracts. The prosecutor's office had said the company avoided paying millions of euros in French tax and charges by using more favourable UK legislation.