Freelancers and the rip-off business



Being employed, that too usefully (I mean get a salary on time and complete some sane work) is such a hard task. For some it means getting out of bed and going over the same mundane chores as always and reach the seat, where they sit like idiots in front of the computer and stare away into eternity.

Some I know use the office network effectively and get some entertainment: download movies, songs, watch reruns of serials, catch latest movies on youtube, and so much more fun than being tied to a boring excel sheet.

Then there are some who use this time and free resources to get some extra cash into their kitty. These people are generally termed Freelancers. What they technically do is take on extra assignments and work their ass off to meet the demands of the inflationary economy. They can buy that extra dress, can eat out more often, and do a lot more. Now, all this ain't easy.

Freelancing also means having to deal with total assholes, dimwits, and mean penny pinchers. The supposedly assignment providers (example, Cube learning, Acumeninfotech, and some more) milk the poor freelancers till they are ready to buckle. How does this work?

The vendors get in touch with biggies like NIIT, Aptech, Vodafone, etc and get projects real cheap. Well, if say an elearning company had to take up the project, it would run into several lakhs. But these vendors get it done within mostly a lakh or two. So, does the freelancer make a lot of money? Nah!

The smart asses from companies like cube, Acumeninfotech, etc fleece freelance IDs and writers, pay them something like 10K or 20K and pocket the rest of the money out of the 1 lakh they get from the clients. All the hard work done by the ID gets credited to the vendor. Then there are some really cheap low lives that bargain AFTER the project is done and dole out less than what was promised. This is how the law also works. IP does not belong to the ID. Fine! But, why not be honest and pay the poor slobs some more money.



The poor ID has to just grind his/her teeth and accept whatever is given. Plus, the vendor also deducts TDS. Nobody is the wiser if they actually submit the tax amount or build a floor on their existing palaces.

Life, is never easy. I am happy I have a job to go to, on a Monday morning. For all my friends who wake up and deal with slimeballs like the above, I send you love and courage. Stand up and fight for your rights.

If your freelance vendor is trying to fry your brain, please complain, drag them to court. It is ok, somebody has to start somewhere. Let us stop this harassment and exploitation.

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