Facebook content moderators in Kenya are suing parent corporation Meta over “unlawful dismissals”, according to a tech rights group representing the moderators.
A total of 43 workers, who moderated Facebook content for the outsourcing company Sama in Nairobi, are launching the lawsuit against Meta for what they allege is unlawful redundancy. Meta hired Sama in 2019 to moderate Facebook content, but earlier this year, the firm informed about 260 moderators that they were being laid off.
“The redundancy being undertaken is unlawful because no genuine nor justifiable reason was given for the redundancy,” say the moderators in their complaint.
Foxglove, the advocacy group supporting the lawsuit, says the moderators were fired for organising a union. After Meta changed contractors, the redundant workers were blacklisted from applying for the same position at another outsourcing company (Majorel), the statement adds.
“This is a union-busting operation masquerading as a mass redundancy,” said Cori Crider, director at Foxglove. “You can’t just switch suppliers and tell recruiters not to hire your workers because they are ‘troublemakers’ – that is, because they have the temerity to stand up for themselves.”
Last month, a Kenyan labour court ruled that Meta could be sued in Kenya despite no official presence in the East African country. The ruling arrived after a former employee took Meta to court alleging poor working conditions at the firm.
Meta subsequently appealed the decision, arguing Kenyan courts had no jurisdiction over the tech corporation.
The moderators have further alleged that Meta directed Majorel not to recruit moderator who previously worked for Sama.
Meta employs a large number of content moderators around the world to review graphic and sensitive material uploaded to its social media platforms. The legal proceedings could have a significant impact on the company’s collaboration with moderators on a global scale.
