Meta plans to appeal the Kenyan court’s decision, according to which the company received the status of an employer of moderators of content published on the platforms of the technology giant in sub-Saharan Africa.
The firm has filed a notice of appeal against the decision, which was made last week on orders issued in March. This happened after 184 moderators sued the company and its content verification partner in sub-Saharan Africa, Sama. The reason for the claims was the alleged termination of contracts on grounds that violate the law.
The plaintiffs also stated that Majorel, the new partner of the social media giant for moderation in the region, blacklisted them based on a corresponding order received from Meta.
The Kenyan Employment and Labor Relations Court in its ruling indicated that the technology giant was the main employer of the moderators, and Sama in this format of commercial relations acted as an agent engaged to monitor the work.
The court also pointed out that the services offered by the moderators related to Meta were provided through the use of the company’s technological tools. Separately, the resolution notes that in this case, full compliance with performance and accuracy targets was ensured. The court’s decision provides for an obligation to extend contracts with moderators.
The court also stated that the work on content moderation is available, and the applicants will continue to work on existing or better conditions in the interim period.
Meta and Sama were prohibited from firing moderators pending a final decision on the case. The court stated that there were no grounds for dismissal.
Meta, in the documents filed with the court, claims an error, which is that the public authority responsible for justice extended expired contracts. The tech giant also announced the rewriting of employment contracts between moderators and Sama. Another claim from the company concerns that Meta imposed conditions and obligations, although the firm was not aware of the details of the contracts mentioned.
Joanne Redmond, Meta director in the EMEA region and Deputy General Counsel for Labor and Employment, said that the moderators were Sama employees and in a legal sense did not interact in any way with the social media giant. Separately, she noted that the court does not have the authority to consider such cases.
Meta also claims that the court ruling contains an erroneous assignment of obligations to the company to regulate the immigration status of moderators and provide them with medical care.
As we have reported earlier, Meta Hit With Landmark $1.3 Billion EU Privacy Fine.
