The vigil held for Ladi Anzaki Olubunmi highlights significant concerns regarding the well-being of content moderators in Kenya. Olubunmi passed away under unclear circumstances after being unable to travel home to Nigeria for two years. Colleagues reported poor working conditions as potential factors contributing to her death. Teleperformance Kenya’s denial of leave requests has been contested by workers, reflecting broader issues within the industry.
Technology professionals in Kenya organized a vigil in memory of their colleague, Ladi Anzaki Olubunmi, a TikTok content moderator, who passed away under mysterious circumstances. After being unable to visit her native Nigeria for two years, her decomposed body was discovered in her residence, raising concerns among her colleagues regarding her well-being.
The cause of Olubunmi’s death remains unknown; however, her coworkers reported that she often expressed feelings of fatigue and a strong desire to return to Nigeria. Teleperformance Kenya, her employer, has not responded to inquiries from the Associated Press but has denied claims that she was denied leave.
Content moderators from subcontracted firms have previously reported challenging work environments characterized by inadequate compensation, insufficient mental health resources, extended work hours, and intimidation. Over 100 former Facebook moderators have also filed lawsuits against their former employer, citing poor pay and harsh working conditions.
During the vigil, numerous workers from different tech companies gathered and expressed that the harsh work environment might have played a role in Olubunmi’s untimely death. A close friend noted that many Nigerian employees at Teleperformance have not received work permits for two years, preventing them from utilizing their annual travel benefits.
Olubunmi’s family learned of her death one day after her body was discovered. Teleperformance reached out to her brother through email, providing contact details for local authorities regarding investigation and funeral logistics. However, her family is financially unable to repatriate her body and is contemplating seeking assistance from her church for burial arrangements.
The tragic death of Ladi Anzaki Olubunmi has spotlighted the troubling work conditions faced by content moderators in Kenya. Despite claims of better working conditions and denial of leave by Teleperformance Kenya, the reality reveals a different narrative of inadequate support and unresolved issues for employees. This incident raises crucial questions about worker welfare and the necessity for reform in the tech industry, particularly for marginalized workers.
Original Source: abcnews.go.com
