720 Covalen Roles at Risk in Dublin Following Meta Global Layoffs
Dublin-based Covalen announced 720 roles are at risk, including AI annotation and content moderation, following Meta's global 10% workforce reduction plan. This move, attributed to changing business conditions, is part of Meta's strategy to increase AI investment while reducing reliance on third-party vendors.
Covalen, a Dublin-based Meta client firm, has informed workers that 720 roles are at risk, including positions in AI annotation, content moderation, quality analysis, and management. This announcement follows Meta's global plan to cut its workforce by 10%, impacting approximately 8,000 roles.
Workers were notified in a 3 PM meeting today at Covalen’s Sandyford offices. The company stated the redundancies are due to changes in «business conditions» and are not performance-related. Covalen has commenced consultation with affected employees in its Dublin operations.
This is not the first time Covalen has faced job insecurity; 400 roles were at risk last November, leading to industrial action in January over redundancy pay and union recognition. Meta plans to double its AI spending this year, potentially up to $135 billion, and stated job cuts starting May 20 are part of efficiency efforts to offset these investments.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin expressed concern about AI's impact on jobs, noting potential significant upheaval in the labor market. John Bohan of the Communications Workers’ Union called the announcement a «crushing blow,» urging Covalen to support workers and the Government to address AI's dangers to the Irish labor market. Meta confirmed it will reduce reliance on third-party vendors as it deploys advanced AI systems.