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Telus to Lay Off 2000 Workers at Barcelona Moderation Centre
Contract Termination Leads to Mass Layoffs
Canadian-based tech company Telus International is set to dismiss up to 2,000 employees from its content moderation center in Barcelona after a major client suspended its contract, according to Spanish unions CCOO and UGT.
Employees Placed on Paid Leave
The company, operating in Spain under the name CCC Barcelona Digital Services, emailed affected employees on Thursday, placing them on gardening leave—full salary with no work responsibilities. Telus stated the decision followed a client’s contract suspension but did not name the client in the email.
Meta Identified as the Client
Although unnamed in the company communication, both CCOO and UGT confirmed that the client was Meta, the owner of Facebook and Instagram. Two employees—one current and one former—who requested anonymity due to non-disclosure agreements, also confirmed the team was moderating content for Meta.
Meta Confirms Service Relocation
A spokesperson for Meta stated that the services previously handled in Barcelona have been moved to other locations, emphasizing that the company is not reducing its content review efforts.
Changes in Meta’s Moderation Strategy
Meta has invested significantly in global content moderation in the past but has recently shifted its strategy. In January, it scrapped its U.S. fact-checking program and announced that it would no longer proactively scan for hate speech or rule violations, opting to review flagged content only when reported by users.
Office Closure and Severance Talks
Telus suspended operations at noon on Thursday, instructing staff to leave the office located in Barcelona’s Glòries Tower. The company stated it would negotiate severance packages with unions and offer support to those affected.
Multilingual Moderation Team Affected
The Barcelona team had provided moderation in multiple languages, including Catalan, Dutch, French, Hebrew, Portuguese, and Spanish. According to current and former employees, the center had previously collaborated with other Telus moderation hubs in Bulgaria, Colombia, and Portugal.
“Telus to Lay Off 2000 Workers at Barcelona Moderation Centre” “Telus to Lay Off 2000 Workers at Barcelona Moderation Centre”