In tech and social media, recent events around X, formerly Twitter, have raised questions about termination practices and employee rights in the modern workplace.
Following the takeover of the platform by Elon Musk in October 2022, the decision to fire half of the staff at one of its headquarters in Africa, in Accra, caused a group of former employees determined to obtain justice.
Legal representation firm, Agency Seven Seven, has announced that it has successfully concluded negotiations in favor of former staff members of Twitter Ghana Ltd to obtain a fair settlement and repatriation costs for the dismissed foreign staff.
The abrupt dismissal, with less than a month’s notice, affected many new employees who came from neighboring countries to join the team. This situation has had a negative impact on their mental health and financial situation.
Non-payment of severance pay led employees to threaten legal action. According to Ghanaian labor laws, employees are entitled to severance pay after negotiations with those affected by the dismissal.
This situation has highlighted the importance of labor and employment laws in protecting workers from mass layoffs and resulting financial hardship.
Ultimately, Musk’s staff-cutting decision affected 6,000 employees worldwide, under the guise of cutting costs. This raises questions about the responsibilities of large companies to their employees and the need for stricter regulation to ensure adequate protection of workers’ rights.
This case highlights the importance of technology companies operating ethically and responsibly, while respecting the fundamental rights of their employees, even during times of restructuring or management change.