Elon Musk’s SpaceX is being sued by the US Department of Justice (DOJ), which claims that the rocket company acts against immigrants and asylum seekers in its hiring procedures.
According to the DoJ, SpaceX made a false assertion that hiring people from outside the US was prohibited.
The DoJ’s inquiry into SpaceX was brought on by claims about prejudice from a foreign employee.
SpaceX has been approached by the BBC for comment.
From September 2018 through May 2022, according to the DoJ, SpaceX “routinely discouraged asylees and refugees from applying and refused to hire or consider them, because of their citizenship status.”
A person who has been given asylum is known as an asylee. They are permitted to work in the US, have the option to apply for a social security card, ask for authorization to travel abroad, and submit an application to bring family members with them.
According to the DOJ, Elon Musk’s business claimed that it could only hire citizens and people with green cards due to “export control laws.”
The DoJ added that this was incorrect and that these statutes are free of such restrictions, nevertheless.
Rocket engineering, washing dishes, and cooking were just a few of the reportedly banned jobs for refugees and asylee applicants.
The DoJ has requested that SpaceX consider paying back wages to those who were wrongfully refused employment as a result of this claimed discrimination.
One of Mr. Musk’s businesses has already been accused of discriminatory behavior, which is why this complaint was brought.
A complaint was launched earlier this month by a group of former workers of the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, saying that Mr. Musk had discriminated against them based on their gender, age, and race.
