US sues Facebook for 'favouring' immigrants over American workers in hiring process

On December 2, US Department of Justice anunced filing a lawsuit against Facebook Inc. for discriminating against American workers. In court’s filing, department alleged that social media giant favoured H-1B Visa workers and or temporary visa holders from or countries, undermining potential of America’s homeland workers.

As per filing, Facebook refused to recruit, consider, or hire qualified and available U.S. workers for over 2,600 positions. lawsuit furr alleged that social media firm vouched for permanent work authorization (or 'green cards') in connection with permanent labor certification process (PERM).

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" Department of Justice’s lawsuit alleges that Facebook engd in intentional and widespread violations of law, by setting aside positions for temporary visa holders instead of considering interested and qualified US workers," Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband of Civil Rights Division said in government’s official release.

 lawsuit follows a nearly two-year investigation into Facebook’s practices and a 'reasonable cause' determination by Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, Assistant Attorney General informed. Alleging that Facebook denied employment opportunities by "illegally" preferring temporary visa holders, Dreiband said that Department of Justice will hold m accountable. 

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Zero or one US worker applicants

As per reports, US Department of Justice audited hiring at Facebook between Jan. 1, 2018, until at least Sept. 18, 2019. It was found that social media giant routinely preferred temporary visa holders (including H-1B visa holders) due to employee's immigration status. formal complaint alleged that Facebook also made majority of job openings to temporary visa holders at expense of US workers by selectively advertising vacancies on its careers website. Reportedly, company recruited foreign employees via mail only.

"In its investigation, department determined that Facebook’s ineffective recruitment methods dissuaded US workers from applying to its PERM positions,"  lawsuit alleged. Furr, in release, US department concluded that during relevant period, Facebook received zero or one US worker applicants for 99.7 percent of its PERM positions.

lawsuit was filed under Department of Justice Civil Rights Division’s Protecting US Workers Initiative, which started in 2017. programme was aimed at targeting, investigating, and taking enforcement actions against any form of workplace discrimination. 

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(Im Credit: AP)