FlySafair Denies Participation in Controversial Recruitment Ad
The airline clarifies its stance following a viral poster calling for ‘beautiful girls’ as flight attendants.
The Full Story
FlySafair has denied involvement in a viral recruitment ad campaign that called for “beautiful girls” to become flight attendants.
The South African carrier is one of five primary local active commercial airlines that operate scheduled domestic and regional flights.
On X, a flyer for a what appeared to e a FlySafair recruitment drive has gone viral.
In the poster, which features the airline’s logo and imagery, including a picture of a flight attendant, various vacancies were listed.
The ad stated that it was looking for casual and permanent staff in the positions of ramp drivers, cleaners, flight attendants, and hospitality posts.
Under qualifications, it claimed that the “minimum” requirement was Grade 9, with Grades 10 to 12 being “advantageous”
“You must be beautiful”, it stated in regards to women interested in the flight attendant posts.
On X, he flyer quickly when viral, with many questioning if the posts and content were part of a legitimate FlySafair vacancy.
The airline has responded to multiple queries, stating: “This is not our ad”
It redirected social media users to its career portal, which warned the public about fraudulent organisations that were claiming to recruit on behalf of FlySafair.
These organisations were found to have swindled individuals out of cash by claiming to solicit transfers of money to pay for administrative processes, accommodation, and reference checks.
It shared: “Please note that FlySafair does not ever ask for money or payments from applicants at any point in the recruitment process. All individuals who are successful in gaining an offer of employment from FlySafair, whether directly or indirectly, are always required to go through a formal recruitment process.
“We recommend that you do not respond to unsolicited business propositions and/or offers from people with whom you are unfamiliar. Do not disclose your personal or financial details to anyone you do not know. If you receive such proposals, we would advise you to contact your local police station and provide them with all information you may have from the senders”.
According to legitimate FlySafair vacancies, the only physical attributes that are required in the posts of flight attendants are the following:
Why It Matters
This incident is significant as it raises concerns about the ethics of recruitment practices in the aviation industry and highlights the susceptibility of job seekers to scams. The demand for physical attributes like beauty in job postings can contribute to gender discrimination and perpetuate stereotypes, which underscores the importance of regulatory oversight in recruitment advertising.
Background and Context
The viral ad claimed that FlySafair was looking for casual and permanent staff, including ramp drivers and flight attendants, with a requirement of Grade 9 education. It specifically called for women to be ‘beautiful.’ FlySafair confirmed the ad was fraudulent and not theirs, directing the public to take care with unsolicited job offers.
Future Outlook
As the airline industry evolves, there will be increasing scrutiny on hiring practices. Regulatory bodies may impose stricter guidelines against discriminatory job postings. Meanwhile, companies like FlySafair may need to strengthen their communications and public representations to counteract misinformation and protect their reputation.