Sacked Twitter staff in Ghana, who were laid off in November, 2022 have finally received their long-awaited compensation.
The employees, based in Accra, Ghana, were abruptly laid off in November 2022, despite many having only recently joined the company. They had been promised redundancy pay, which X had failed to deliver until now.
The termination had come as part of a global downsizing initiative led by Elon Musk, who assumed control of the company in 2022. Facing substantial financial losses, Musk undertook a massive reduction in the workforce, resulting in over 6,000 layoffs worldwide. The African division, comprising fewer than 20 employees, had recently transitioned to a new office in Accra after months of remote work due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Legal representatives from Agency Seven Seven, acting on behalf of the sacked employees, successfully negotiated a settlement with X, securing both redundancy packages and repatriation expenses for foreign staff. The exact amount of the payout remains undisclosed.
Speaking on behalf of the employees, Carla Olympio expressed relief and satisfaction at finally receiving their entitled compensation, allowing them to move forward from the ordeal. Last year, former staff members had lamented the impact of X’s actions on their mental health and financial stability, highlighting the challenges of being left without income or support.
Despite initial assurances of a one-month notice period and severance pay, employees found themselves immediately locked out of company resources without further compensation. This left many in a precarious situation, particularly those who had relocated from neighboring countries like Nigeria, now stranded in Ghana without income or means to return home.
Elon Musk’s statements regarding severance pay for laid-off employees did not align with the experiences of the Africa-based staff, who claim they did not receive the promised support. Negotiations between X and the affected employees only commenced after media coverage brought attention to their plight, indicating a lack of proactive action on the company’s part.
The situation underscores broader concerns about labor rights and corporate responsibility, with X facing legal challenges in both Africa and the United States over its handling of employee terminations. As the company navigates these issues, the plight of the sacked staff in Ghana serves as a poignant reminder of the human impact behind corporate decisions.