{"id":1711,"date":"2024-08-07T06:48:19","date_gmt":"2024-08-07T11:48:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/itparadise.net\/2021\/08\/07\/whatsapps-spanish-language-content-moderators-push-for-equal-pay-in-internal-letter\/"},"modified":"2024-08-29T08:53:53","modified_gmt":"2024-08-29T13:53:53","slug":"whatsapps-spanish-language-content-moderators-push-for-equal-pay-in-internal-letter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/itparadise.net\/?p=1711","title":{"rendered":"WhatsApp\u2019s Spanish language content moderators push for equal pay in internal letter"},"content":{"rendered":"

WhatsApp\u2019s Spanish language content moderators and customer service representatives are pushing the company for equal pay, according to an internal letter obtained by The Verge<\/em>. They say they\u2019ve been excluded from a $2 per hour premium paid to other bilingual contractors. The workers are employed by Accenture, a third-party contracting firm, in Austin, Texas. <\/p>\n

\u201cFor several years now, Accenture, Facebook, and Whatsapp have denied equal treatment and pay to Spanish language Contingent Workers,\u201d employees say in the letter. \u201cIt is an insult for companies like Facebook and Accenture to publicly champion diversity, but yet fail to deliver this to its own workers.\u201d Accenture classifies much of its workforce as contingent, meaning employees are hired as contractors for a specific period of time. <\/p>\n

Workers are demanding that Spanish language contractors receive the $2 premium, as well as backpay for the money they missed out on since they were hired. <\/p>\n

One worker says they were told they\u2019d need to learn Arabic or Portuguese in order to receive the premium. \u201cI\u2019m already bilingual,\u201d the employee says they responded, in an interview with The Verge<\/em>. Still, the policy didn\u2019t change. <\/p>\n

The letter was sent to Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, WhatsApp CEO Will Cathcart, and Accenture CEO Julie Sweet. It was posted today on Workplace, Facebook\u2019s internal communications platform. It currently has 89 signatures from Facebook, WhatsApp, and Accenture employees. <\/p>\n

The letter came after workers pushed for years to have equal pay, according to the internal letter. \u201cManagers and HR reps for Accenture in Austin, Texas have not only ignored the complaints of discrimination for several years now, but they also actively engaged in ensuring this gross injustice go unacknowledged and unaddressed,\u201d the note says. \u201cWe say this blatant act of racism and discrimination towards its own essential workers needs to end now.\u201d<\/p>\n

Facebook content moderators at Accenture\u2019s Austin office were asked to come back to the office during the pandemic. Many said they feared for their safety and felt the company hadn\u2019t adequately addressed their concerns. These employees are often among the lowest paid Facebook workers, and make roughly $18.50 an hour. <\/p>\n

Accenture\u2019s Spanish speaking customer service reps say they make as little as $16.50 an hour. \u201cAccenture is the Walmart of the tech industry,\u201d an employee tells The Verge<\/em>. \u201cMost of us have to have two jobs to survive. We get paid $16.50 an hour. That\u2019s not a livable wage in Austin.\u201d<\/p>\n

In a statement emailed to The Verge<\/em>, an Accenture spokesperson said: \u201cWe strive to ensure that all our people are compensated fairly and equitably with market relevant pay. We have an unwavering commitment to equality and zero tolerance for racism, bigotry and hate of any kind.\u201d<\/p>\n

Facebook did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Verge<\/em>. <\/p>\n

Update June 30th, 11:37AM PST: <\/strong><\/em>Article updated with a statement from Accenture. <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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