Meta to lay off employees in 12 countries

Facebook parent Meta Platforms Inc. plans to implement expected company-wide layoffs next week, along with a rapid hiring of machine learning engineers, employees were told in internal memos.

Notices will be sent to employees who have lost their jobs starting tomorrow in most countries, including the United States, according to a post by Meta’s head of people, Janelle Gill, according to Reuters.

It added that employees in Germany, France, Italy and the Netherlands will be exempt from the cuts “due to local regulations,” while employees in more than a dozen other countries across Europe, Asia and Africa will receive their notices between Feb. 11 and Feb. 18.

The company confirmed last month that it plans to cut about 5% of “lowest performing employees” and refill at least some positions.