Teleperformance Kenya Addresses Claims Regarding Nigerian Content Moderator’s Death
Teleperformance Kenya denies claims it stopped Nigerian content moderator Ladi Olubunmi from traveling home before her death. Colleagues alleged she faced work permit issues; the company refuted these claims. A vigil was held, focusing on poor working conditions affecting tech workers. Issues of expired work permits among Nigerian employees were also raised, while official responses remain unaddressed.
Teleperformance Kenya, a subcontractor for TikTok, has refuted allegations that it prevented Ladi Olubunmi, a Nigerian content moderator, from returning home prior to her death. Reports indicated that Olubunmi’s body was found in her apartment days after her passing was first noted. The company clarified through The Associated Press that there was no denial regarding her request for leave.
Various media outlets reported colleague claims stating that Olubunmi had expressed a desire to return to Nigeria due to exhaustion. Despite eligibility for an annual return ticket, her colleagues alleged she was denied leave based on issues related to her work permit. Teleperformance Kenya has labeled these assertions as unfounded and false.
Olubunmi, who relocated to Kenya in 2022, was employed as a content moderator under Teleperformance, which provides services to TikTok. In her memory, Kenyan technology workers conducted a vigil to honor her lost life, addressing significant concerns about inadequate working conditions potentially contributing to her demise.
Kauna Malgwi, a friend of Olubunmi, raised alarms over the status of over 100 Nigerians working for Teleperformance whose work permits have lapsed, preventing them from traveling home despite their benefits. When contacted, Abdulrahman Balogun, spokesperson for the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, did not respond to inquiries regarding the agency’s actions in this matter.
Historically, the deaths of Nigerians under ambiguous circumstances in Kenya have been noted, including incidents in July 2021, where two Nigerians died at a house party, one falling from a building and another reportedly collapsing in the kitchen.
Teleperformance Kenya’s denial of claims that it restricted Ladi Olubunmi from traveling home underscores ongoing concerns regarding the treatment of foreign workers, particularly in technology sectors. The circumstances surrounding Olubunmi’s death, alongside claims from her colleagues about work permit issues and poor working conditions, highlight critical issues in labor practices within the industry. The response or lack thereof from authorities further emphasizes the needs for better regulation and support for expatriate workers.
Original Source: punchng.com
