Facebook is not in a good position after the United States Department of Justice accused the social media platform of discriminating against American workers.
The department claimed that the tech giant company has hiring preferences to immigrants. The filed lawsuit claims that Facebook is refusing to consider, hire, or recruit available and qualified U.S. citizens for more than 2,600 positions.
The U.S. Department of Justice said that the social media giant offered job positions to foreigners on temporary visas, as reported by BBC News.
On the other hand, the DoJ said that most of these positions offer $156,000 every year, which will really be helpful to those Americans in need, especially during the ongoing pandemic.
"Facebook intentionally created a hiring system in which it denied qualified US workers a fair opportunity to learn about and apply for jobs," said the U.S. Department of Justice via The Guardian UK.
Facebook focuses on temporary H-1B visa owners
According to the lawsuit filed on Thursday, Dec. 3, Facebook created a hiring system that favors mostly temporary H-1B visa owners, as well as other temporary workers in the United States.
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DoJ explained that the lawsuit was filed after a two-year investigation into Facebook's hiring methods. It is also seeking back pay on behalf of American workers, who are denied employment at Facebook.
Eric S. Dreidband, the assistant attorney general for the department's civil rights division, explained that DoJ will hold the companies accountable if they refuse employment opportunities by illegally preferring temporary visa holders.
Facebook is coordinating with the DoJ
Daniel Roberts, Facebook's spokesperson, said that the social media firm is already coordinating with the U.S. Department of Justice to review the current issue. He added that Facebook will dispute the allegations in the latest complaint.
However, Roberts said that they can't provide additional information about pending litigation. This new lawsuit is just one example that the Trump administration is battling against Silicon Valley over attempts to restrict immigration for foreign employees.
Republican lawmakers also fought against Facebook in other areas, including the accusation that the social media platform stifles conservative comments.
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Written by: Giuliano de Leon.