Vipi Radio
Facebook parent company META; has faced a setback in its attempt to avoid paying Sh1.9 billion to 186 laid-off content moderators in Kenya.
An out-of-court settlement between the moderators and Meta collapsed last October, as described by the moderators’ lawyer, Mercy Mutemi, due to what she termed as bad faith on Meta’s part.
In its appeal, which the Court of Appeal rejected, Meta contested a Labour Court ruling allowing the moderators to sue over poor working conditions.
The company argued that the moderators, who were employed by Samasource Kenya EPZ Limited, could not bring claims against them because the contracting firm is not based in Kenya.
However, Mutemi contended that Meta was conducting business in Kenya, profiting from millions of users and paying Digital Service Tax.
Meta also contested the Labour Court’s interim injunction that suspended the dismissals.
The three judges from the appeal court supported the Labour Court’s decision, agreeing it had the jurisdiction to intervene.
Following the Court of Appeal’s ruling, the moderators will advance their case in the Labour Court,
seeking compensation that includes 12 months’ gross salary, Sh10 million each for unfair labor practices, and Sh20 million for rights violations.
