Teleperformance Kenya Denies Claims of Preventing TikToker’s Travel Before Death
Teleperformance Kenya has denied claims that it stopped Ladi Olubunmi, a Nigerian content moderator, from returning to Nigeria before her death. Reports suggest she expressed fatigue and was denied leave due to work permit concerns. Friends reveal over 100 Nigerian employees lack valid work permits. A vigil was held in her honor, highlighting poor working conditions among tech workers. Inquiries to the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission have gone unanswered, recalling previous mysterious deaths of Nigerians in Kenya.
Teleperformance Kenya, a subcontractor for TikTok, has refuted allegations that it prevented Nigerian content moderator Ladi Olubunmi from traveling home prior to her untimely death. According to reports from ABC News, Olubunmi’s decomposed body was discovered in her apartment, three days after her passing, which reportedly occurred while she was longing to return to Nigeria.
The company stated on Wednesday to The Associated Press that it did not reject Olubunmi’s leave request. Contrarily, some of her colleagues claimed that despite being entitled to an annual return ticket, she was unable to secure permission to travel due to uncertainties surrounding her work permit. Teleperformance Kenya, however, labeled these assertions as “baseless and untrue.”
Ladi Olubunmi relocated to Kenya in 2022 to serve as a content moderator for TikTok, facilitated by Teleperformance, a French outsourcing company associated with the platform. Following her passing, technology workers in Kenya organized a vigil to honor her memory, voicing concerns about substandard working conditions that they believe may have contributed to her demise.
Friends, including Kauna Malgwi, indicated that over 100 Nigerians working with Teleperformance in Kenya lack valid work permits, restricting their capability to return home even though they hold annual return ticket benefits. 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.”
Inquiries were made to the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission regarding the situation, yet spokesperson Abdulrahman Balogun did not respond to calls or messages seeking comment. Notably, this incident is reminiscent of previous mysterious deaths of Nigerians in Kenya, including two deaths at a house party in July 2021, which remain unexplained.
The incident concerning Ladi Olubunmi has garnered significant attention, raising serious questions about the working conditions for expatriates in Kenya and the responsibilities of employers regarding their health and wellbeing. As investigations continue, the emphasis on ensuring safe working environments for international employees is paramount. This case also highlights the need for regulatory bodies to be more proactive in addressing employment challenges faced by foreign nationals.
Original Source: punchng.com
