Freelancing in India

2021-07-31T15:58:16Z

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Globally, [[India]] ranks as the 2nd largest freelance workforce after the US with over 15 million people working independently in various sectors such as [[Information technology|IT]] and [[Programming language|programming]], finance, sales and marketing, designing, animation, videography, content and [[academic writing]]. By 2020, 50% of workers are expected to go freelance.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/60-of-freelancers-in-india-are-under-30/articleshow/64743696.cms|title=Infographic: 60% of freelancers in India are under 30 - Times of India|website=The Times of India|access-date=2018-11-14}}</ref>

== Government ==
There has not been much effort from India's government towards assisting freelancers until recently when it set up the ''Digital India Platform''(DIP), an initiative to digitalize all government documents and where freelancers would be hired to help carry out the task. Anyone with a knowledge of computers has access to the Internet and owns a valid Aadhar card would be eligible to apply for this freelance opportunity.<ref>Burke, Miles. The Principles Of Successful Freelancing. 1st ed., Collingwood, Vic., Sitepoint, 2008,.</ref>

== Economic contributions ==
India has about 15 million freelancers<ref>[https://www.mbopartners.com/uploads/files/state-of-independence-reports/2016_MBO_Partners_State_of_Independence_Report.pdf. America's Independents: A Rising Economic Force]. MBO Partners, Inc, Herndon, Virginia, 2016,</ref> and they have been significantly boosting the growth of start-ups. While fostering the start-up economy in the country, Indian freelancers are also increasingly providing expertise to top-drawer corporations as business environments and needs evolve.<ref>Indian Companies Say I Do To The Freelance Economy. FlexingIt, New Delhi, 2016,.</ref>

== Female Indian freelance workers ==
There are numerous highly educated women armed with masters and doctorate degrees in India who cannot pursue a regular occupation due to family and social obligations.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/jobs/heres-why-freelancers-are-in-great-demand/articleshow/54538358.cms|title=Here’s why freelancers are in great demand - The Economic Times|newspaper=The Economic Times|access-date=2017-01-31}}</ref> Rather than cutting short their professional careers, these women seek out freelancing options.

Despite freelancing providing a viable career option for women looking for flexibility and control the number of Indian women taking up freelancing is still small as compared to their male counterparts. In a survey conducted by Payoneer, a payments services provider based in New York in 2015, only 22 per cent of Indian freelancers are women.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/tech/tech-internet-combine-to-create-unconventional-career-options/story-1kHKXGcYpUiEMgyTYT9nNO.html|title=Thanks to internet, India has most freelance professionals after US|date=2015-12-07|newspaper=Hindustan Times|language=en|access-date=2017-01-31}}</ref> Not only this but the same report reveals that women are paid lesser than the men who freelance. While a male freelancer earns $19 per hour on an average, a female freelancer apparently earns $17 per hour for the same project.<ref name="Scroll.in">{{Cite news|url=http://scroll.in/article/720242/work-more-earn-less-four-charts-sum-up-the-economics-of-freelancing-in-india|title=Work more, earn less: four charts sum up the economics of freelancing in India|last=Jain|first=Mayank|newspaper=Scroll.in|language=en-US|access-date=2017-01-31}}</ref>

== Companies and freelancers ==
The distinct shifts in areas like technology, culture, demographics and professional needs and goals have driven companies to reassess their human resource policies in order to accommodate the burgeoning freelance economy.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/jobs/heres-why-freelancers-are-in-great-demand/articleshow/54538358.cms|title=Here’s why freelancers are in great demand - The Economic Times|newspaper=The Economic Times|access-date=2017-01-31}}</ref> It comes as no surprise that the start-ups in India are hiring 50 per cent of the total freelancing workforce. These companies are not only hiring freelancers or independent consultants at lower management. In fact, freelance CFO’s are also getting on board in order to help streamline a company’s finances. According to industry estimates, hiring their services of an outsourced CFO can result in operational savings of 30 to 70 per cent and depending upon the nature of the job, fees charged can range from Rs 30,000 to a few lakhs per month.<ref>Nilika Mehrotra (2013), Disability, gender and caste intersections in Indian economy, in Sharon N. Barnartt , Barbara M. Altman (ed.) Disability and Intersecting Statuses (Research in Social Science and Disability, Volume 7) Emerald Group Publishing Limited, pp. 295 – 324</ref>

==References==
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== Further reading ==
* Das, Goutam. [https://www.businesstoday.in/current/economy-politics/gig-work-india-contributes-1-in-4-freelancers/story/267601.html "Gig work: India now contributes 1 in 4 freelancers"] (January 9, 2018). ''Business Today''. Retrieved November 14, 2018.

[[Category:Employment in India]]
[[Category:Outsourcing in India]]

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Freelancing in India