Sama, a company previously contracted by Meta for content moderation, will lay off over 1,000 employees in its Nairobi office. The decision follows Meta's termination of a major engagement with Sama. The two companies have been in court since 2022 after former content moderators accused them of poor working conditions.
What happened
Sama received formal notice from Meta to end a significant contract at its Nairobi office. In response, Sama issued a formal layoff notice affecting a large portion of its staff.
How many employees affected
The layoff will impact 1,108 Sama employees in Kenya.
Why layoffs happened
The layoffs are a direct consequence of Meta's decision to end its contract with Sama. Sama had been providing services such as AI data labeling for Meta.
Company background
Sama previously provided content moderation services to Meta. Former content moderators sued Sama over claims of low wages, insufficient mental health support, and long working hours. Sama has since changed its business model and stopped offering content moderation services to Meta, focusing instead on services such as AI data labeling.
Industry impact
The layoffs highlight the challenges faced by companies providing outsourced services to major tech firms, particularly in regions with different labor standards. The case has drawn attention to the working conditions of content moderators and the mental health support they receive.
What's next
Sama stated it is actively supporting affected employees. The lawsuit filed in 2023 by former content moderators against Sama remains ongoing.
Source: kiro7.com, wsbradio.com, apnews.com