Facebook to settle U.S. employment discrimination claims with $14.25 million

Facebook will pay up to $14.25 million to settle civil claims brought by the U.S. government for discriminating against workers and violating other federal recruitment rules.
The two related settlements were announced on Tuesday by officials of the U.S. Justice Department and Labour Department.
The Justice Department announced last December that it was filing a lawsuit that accused Facebook of giving hiring preferences to temporary workers.
This includes those who hold H-1B visas that let companies temporarily employ foreign workers in certain speciality occupations. Such visas are widely used by tech companies.
Kristen Clarke, assistant U.S. Attorney-General for the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, called the agreement with Facebook historic.
“It represents by far the largest civil penalty the Civil Rights Division has ever recovered in the 35-year history of the Immigration and Nationality Act’s anti-discrimination provision,” Ms Clarke said in a call with reporters, referring to a key U.S. immigration law.
The case centred on the social media company’s use of the permanent labour certification called the PERM programme.
The U.S. government said that Facebook refused to recruit or hire U.S. workers for jobs that had been reserved for temporary visa holders under the PERM programme.
It also accused Facebook of “potential regulatory recruitment violations”.
Facebook will pay a civil penalty under the settlement of $4.75 million, plus up to $9.5 million to eligible victims of what the government called discriminatory hiring practices.
(NAN)
We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.
More from Peoples Gazette

Rights
HEDA admonishes CBN to review cash ratio policy, monitor PoS operators reselling new notes to partygoers
The group asked the CBN partner with law enforcement agencies to arrest the defaulters and bring them to book.

Sport
Christian Atsu found alive hours after being trapped under rubble from Türkiye earthquake
Twin earthquakes rocked Türkiye and Syria in the early hours of Monday, leading to the death of more than 2,300 people.

Politics
Tinubu donated N100 million to victims of banditry in Katsina: Masari
The governor said that the APC presidential candidate gave the donation to be distributed to all victims of insecurity in the state.

Politics
Nigeria, Oyo need “new nation handlers” like Tinubu, Folarin: Group
The group also supported the governorship and presidential candidates with billboards, banners, posters, stickers, and shirts.

Politics
I will return peace to Benue, promote agriculture: Atiku
The PDP candidate revealed that the measures he will adopt is for the Fulani and Tivs to sign a peace accord.

States
FRSC to screen vehicles, drivers for election duties in Zamfara
The corps said safe and timely delivery of election materials was imperative to free, fair and credible elections in the country.