Technology workers in Kenya held a vigil for their deceased colleague, Ladi Anzaki Olubunmi, whose body was found after she had not been able to return home to Nigeria for two years. The circumstances of her death remain unclear, with her colleagues indicating that she was fatigued and desperate to return home. Concerns about poor working conditions for content moderators were highlighted during the vigil, and Olubunmi’s family faces challenges regarding her burial arrangements.
In a poignant demonstration of solidarity, technology workers in Kenya held a vigil for their colleague, Ladi Anzaki Olubunmi, a Nigerian content moderator for TikTok. Tragically, her body was discovered in her residence three days after her death, leaving her colleagues in mourning and seeking answers regarding the circumstances surrounding her demise. Olubunmi had been unable to return to Nigeria for two years, and reports from her peers reveal she expressed significant fatigue and a pressing desire to go home.
Teleperformance Kenya, Olubunmi’s employer, has not publicly addressed the ongoing concerns regarding her death, referring to allegations that she was denied leave as “baseless and untrue.” The firm has also declined to elaborate on the details of her passing. Workers in the industry have previously reported experiencing substandard working conditions, including inadequate compensation, insufficient mental health resources, and excessive working hours,
Olubunmi was not alone in her struggles; over 100 Nigerian colleagues at Teleperformance have faced similar situations regarding work permits, preventing them from returning home despite having annual return ticket benefits. At the vigil, Kauna Malgwi, a close friend of Olubunmi, emphasized the collective plight of these workers, stating the conditions may have adversely affected their colleague’s well-being.
Following the discovery of her body, Olubunmi’s family was promptly notified, yet financial constraints have hindered their ability to repatriate her remains to Nigeria. In light of these difficulties, her family is considering enlisting assistance from her church in Nairobi for burial arrangements. This tragedy highlights the pressing need for improved worker conditions and support for content moderators within the technology industry.
The vigil for Ladi Anzaki Olubunmi serves as a tragic reminder of the vulnerability faced by many content moderators in Kenya, particularly those employed by subcontractors. The lack of support and harsh working conditions contribute significantly to the mental and physical health challenges these workers encounter. This incident underscores the urgent need for systemic changes within the industry to protect workers’ rights and well-being. Furthermore, the financial constraints faced by Olubunmi’s family illustrate the profound impact of such tragedies, prompting a calls for reforms and accountability from firms like Teleperformance and other employers within the tech sector.
Original Source: abcnews.go.com
