A US judge ruled that Meta must face a lawsuit alleging it prioritises hiring foreign workers to pay them lower wages. The proposed class action involves three US citizens who claim they were repeatedly rejected despite being qualified for roles at the company.

The plaintiffs argue that Meta systematically favours visa holders, citing statistics showing a significant portion of its US workforce holds H-1B visas. The company denies the claims, stating there is no evidence of intentional discrimination or that the plaintiffs would have been hired otherwise.

A 2021 settlement saw Meta agree to pay up to$14.25 million over similar government allegations. The latest ruling follows a 2023 appeals court decision, which cited a Civil War-era law protecting US citizens from discrimination in contracts.

Plaintiffs hope the lawsuit will expose widespread hiring biases in the tech sector. Their legal team suggests further enforcement or legislative action may be necessary to address the issue.