Teleperformance Kenya Denies Blocking Nigerian Content Moderator’s Return Home Before Death
Teleperformance Kenya has denied claims that it barred Nigerian content moderator Ladi Olubunmi from traveling home prior to her death. Reports indicate she expressed fatigue before her passing. While colleagues allege she was denied leave due to work permit concerns, the company has declared these claims false. A vigil for Olubunmi raised awareness regarding working conditions affecting international workers in Kenya.
Teleperformance Kenya, a subcontractor for TikTok, has refuted allegations that it prevented Nigerian content moderator Ladi Olubunmi from returning to Nigeria prior to her death. It was reported that her body was discovered in her apartment, three days posthumously, raising questions about her wellbeing. According to the company, there was no denial of her leave request.
Colleagues of the deceased claimed she was fatigued and keen to return home, despite being entitled to an annual return ticket. They asserted that her leave request was denied due to work permit issues. Teleperformance Kenya labeled these claims as “baseless and untrue,” stating that Olubunmi had not been hindered from taking leave.
Having relocated to Kenya in 2022 to serve as a content moderator for TikTok, Olubunmi worked under Teleperformance, a French outsourcing entity. A vigil attended by technology workers in Kenya honored her memory, during which concerns were raised about poor working conditions possibly contributing to her demise.
Kauna Malgwi, a friend of Olubunmi, mentioned that over 100 Nigerians employed by Teleperformance Kenya lack valid work permits, hindering their ability to travel home. Malgwi stated, “More than 100 Nigerians are working under Teleperformance who haven’t had work permits for the last two years, and so they have not been able to travel home despite having an annual return ticket benefit.”
When PUNCH Metro attempted to contact the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission regarding this matter, spokesperson Abdulrahman Balogun did not respond to calls or inquiries. It is noteworthy that this incident is not isolated; a similar situation occurred in July 2021 when two Nigerians died under unexplained circumstances in Kenya.
The situation involving Ladi Olubunmi’s death has sparked significant concerns regarding workplace conditions and the rights of foreign workers in Kenya. Teleperformance Kenya’s denial of the claims made by Olubunmi’s colleagues indicates potential discrepancies between employee experiences and corporate practices. This incident highlights a broader issue regarding work permits and employee welfare within the tech industry in Kenya.
Original Source: punchng.com
