Facilitate freelancers

Freelancing can become Bangladesh’s gateway to a vast digital economy. The freelancing market in Bangladesh is growing relatively fast with a significant number of Bangladeshi youth exploring its potential. This indeed is a positive development.

However, there are some basic problems and ground realities that need to be addressed. For instance, freelancers are eligible to the 10 per cent incentive as they are earning foreign currency. But the overwhelming majority of freelancers are not receiving it.

In a bid to boost freelancing in the country the central bank has directed authorised dealer banks to provide exporters’ retention quota (ERQ) account services to freelancers.

Freelancers all over country have breathed a collective sigh of relief at Bangladesh Bank’s decision.

With suitable supervision and skill growth Bangladesh is looking at a substantial sum of foreign currency to be earned from this sector. Of paramount importance about freelancing is that it operates on a merit-based reward system. Of course, to attain success one requires self-determination and discipline. The authorities concerned should carry on promoting more about the affirmative features of this field.

Taking the benefits and the huge work prospects of freelancing under consideration, one cannot help but to have a constructive frame of mind about this field. Freelancing can also be a good tool to endorse other industries of our country to the world business community.

There are millions of freelancers in Bangladesh, who are earning by providing different kinds of IT-based services. These freelancers are providing their services to clients from all over the world.

The government has expressed its willingness to provide facilities like loans and others to ensure freelancers can take part more in this ever-emerging global market. Socially acknowledging the freelancers is without a doubt a constructive step, which will stimulate established freelancers and give poise to beginners to mull over freelancing as a career.

The government should talk to global money transfer companies, such as Payoneer, Western Union, TransferWise, Skrill, etc., to open their offices in the country to facilitate local freelancers in better ways.

The digital economy world is highly competitive. Skill, talent, and handwork pave the way for success in freelancing. Web developing, creating software, social marketing, photography, coding, accounting or bookkeeping, virtual assistant, content writing, are some of the main freelancing services Bangladeshi freelancers provide to the world. Truth be told we still have a long way ahead of us when it comes to awareness building concerning freelancing. The authorities concerned and general people associated with ICT, freelancing, and outsourcing should come forward and conduct more awareness building programmes.

More symposiums and open interactive seminars should be organised to raise the conscience of the people about this. Of course, organising such programmes in some isolated auditorium is not good enough; newspapers and other information platforms can do more in-depth reports on freelancing. They can address important questions like exactly what is freelancing, how big and opportunities the freelancing marketplace is, what are the basic steps to become a freelancer, names of physical or online institutions which can offer advanced training.

Experts of the field suggest that freelancers must have good communication and presentation skills. Freelancers need lucrative websites that can easily catch the client’s attention.

Most of our clients are US and Canadians, sometimes language becomes a barrier in striking a deal. One of the saddening news is that even though many of our freelancers have top-notch skills but out of fear of losing the deal, they bid at competitively lower prices. Now a little grooming from experts and having confidence in own abilities can take young freelancers a long way.