Nigerian TikTok Employee Found Dead in Her Apartment in Kenya
A Nigerian employee of Teleperformance Kenya, a subsidiary of the global digital business services firm, was discovered dead in her Lower Kabete apartment last Friday. Reports indicate that her body had been decomposing for three days before colleagues found her, raising concerns about the company's lack of response to her unexplained absence. The employee, who has been identified as Ladi Anzaki Olubunmi, worked as a content moderator for Teleperformance, a subsidiary of TikTok, before her death.
Following the discovery, employees of the company staged a strike, citing longstanding grievances related to work permits, unremitted tax deductions, and denied benefits. Workers allege that the company failed to provide essential documentation, preventing them from accessing services such as the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) and the National Social Security Fund (NSSF), despite regular deductions from their salaries.
The deceased, who worked as a TikTok content moderator since 2022, had reportedly made repeated requests for leave and a return ticket home, entitlements under her contract, but was denied permission to travel. Employees claim that she sought assistance from management multiple times but was ignored, with reports suggesting she was even mocked when pleading for her entitlements. One of her colleagues, who spoke to the newspaper under the condition of anonymity, revealed that Teleperformance denied Olubunmi, who has been a staff member of the organization since 2022, her leave days and work permit.
Workers have also accused the company of mistreating those who raise concerns, with many fearing retaliation for speaking out. Some claim that the company has instructed employees not to discuss their colleague’s death or share information about it publicly.
The cause of death remains unclear, but the incident has intensified tensions between employees and management. Many moderators at the company reportedly lack work permits, leaving them in a vulnerable legal position. They further allege that tax deductions are made from their salaries without proper remittance and that when they demand accountability, the company provides vague assurances with no action.
Employees have refused to resume work since Friday, with management allegedly telling them that if they cannot wait for their work permits, they should resign and return to Nigeria. The situation remains unresolved, with employees demanding accountability and improved working conditions.
Comments