Teleperformance Kenya denied claims it barred Nigerian content moderator Ladi Olubunmi from traveling home prior to her death. Colleagues alleged she expressed fatigue and was denied leave. Concerns have been raised about the working conditions in Kenya, particularly regarding an excess of unpermitted Nigerian workers. Authorities have yet to respond to the incident, which echoes past mysterious deaths of Nigerians in the country.
Teleperformance Kenya, a subcontractor for TikTok, has refuted allegations that it prevented Nigerian content moderator Ladi Olubunmi from traveling home before her death. Reports indicate that Olubunmi’s decomposing body was found in her apartment three days after her alleged death. The firm asserted that it had not denied her leave request, countering claims made by some of Olubunmi’s colleagues.
Colleagues of Olubunmi reported that she expressed fatigue and a strong desire to return to Nigeria, an entitlement she was unable to exercise due to concerns regarding her work permit. While Teleperformance Kenya deemed these claims as “baseless and untrue,” reports in international media highlight the struggles faced by content moderators in the organization.
Olubunmi relocated to Kenya in 2022 to serve as a content moderator for TikTok through Teleperformance. Following her death, technology workers in Kenya held a vigil, emphasizing the poor working conditions contributing to the working climate that may have affected Olubunmi’s health.
Concerns were raised during the vigil regarding over 100 Nigerians employed by Teleperformance who reportedly do not hold valid work permits, limiting their ability to return home despite having annual return ticket benefits. Friend Kauna Malgwi emphasized that these workers have faced significant restrictions due to permit issues.
Inquiries to Abdulrahman Balogun, the spokesperson for the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, regarding actions taken in response to this incident went unanswered. This tragic event follows a pattern of mysterious deaths of Nigerians in Kenya, recalling incidents from July 2021 when two Nigerians died under unclear circumstances.
The situation surrounding Ladi Olubunmi’s death has raised significant concerns regarding the working conditions of Nigerians in Kenya, particularly those working under Teleperformance. With allegations of improper leave management and the prevalence of expired work permits, the case highlights systemic issues within the industry. The response from authorities and the conditions prompting the vigil may lead to further scrutiny of labor practices for expatriates in Kenya.
Original Source: punchng.com
