Industry often exploits freelancers as companies that they work for pay less for the work they are provided with
KARACHI: This is in response to Imran Batada’s article titled ‘Development of freelancing industry’ published in this newspaper on November 13. He talks about how our vocational training institutes can work towards providing skills for our ever-growing freelancing industry. This is an important aspect the writer has highlighted.
In Pakistan, we often overlook the freelancing industry but we cannot deny the fact that in this time and age, the freelancing industry is one of the most flourishing industries not just in Pakistan but worldwide. As Batada mentions, “according to the Online Labour Index 2017 of Oxford Internet Institute, we are ranked 4th in the list of most popular country for freelancing.” This is a huge feat. This means our young population is indulging in the industry.
However, this industry often exploits freelancers as companies that they work for pay less for the work they are provided with. On top of that payments are not on time, sometimes years late from when the work was done. This is concerning as it puts the future of this growing industry at risk.
Hence, apart from the developments Batada has mentioned the government should also legalise freelance work by enacting a law that can hold a company accountable for exploiting freelancers.
Mehnaz Akram
Published in The Express Tribune, November 16th, 2018.
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