Meta Ends Contract with Sama, Over 1,100 Jobs Lost Amid Worker Complaints

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Nairobi: After facing years of criticism and legal cases, Meta has decided to end its contract with Sama. This decision will result in more than 1,100 people losing their jobs.

Meta had hired Sama in 2019 to review and remove harmful, violent, or hateful content from Facebook in sub-Saharan Africa.

Both companies have been criticized for poor working conditions. In 2023, nearly 200 workers who were fired by Sama filed a lawsuit, claiming unfair dismissal. They also said they faced harsh conditions, including forced labour and irregular salaries.

Another complaint was filed in 2022 by a former Sama employee from South Africa.

Workers said that constantly reviewing disturbing content affected their mental health. They also demanded better pay, saying their wages did not match the risks involved in the job.

Sama denied these claims, stating that employees were paid fairly, received full benefits, and had access to professional counselling.

Meta said it ended the contract because Sama did not meet its standards. The company added that it will now rely more on Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning to handle such work.