Web site to connect freelancers, businesses

A DEDICATED job matching Web site for local freelancers and small and medium-sized firms has been set up in a bid to take increased Internet usage by Filipinos.

“Why the Philippines? Remarkably, the Philippines is the third largest freelancing community in the world after India and Pakistan,” said Matt Barrie, chief executive officer of Freelancer International Pty Ltd.

The freelancer.ph website, like the existing freelancer.com site, aims to connect employers with freelancers searching for work in the areas of software, writing, data entry and website, logo and application design.

All job postings will be from Filipino employers and payments for accomplished jobs will be settled in pesos.

Registration for both businesses and freelancers is free.

“We earn through commissions for every transaction completed,” Mr. Barrie said, adding that job fees average around P8,000.

Scams are prevented as escrow accounts will be set up while tasks are being completed, and a dispute resolution team is also ready to handle problems.

“We think the number of Filipino users now can double in the next six months with the launch of the site as many are becoming internet savvy and as they become more comfortable in transactions using the local currency,” Mr. Barrie said.

Freelancer.com, he said, already has 100,000 active Filipino users, 75% of whom are freelancers and the rest comprising employers.

Overall internet users in the country, Mr Barie claimed, ballooned to 30 million last year from just eight million in 2009.

“Whether you have an idea to start a business and need to hire someone to help turn it into reality, or you’re an entrepreneur wanting to start a service business working as a freelancer online, there’s a huge opportunity,” he claimed. — Louella D. Desiderio, Businessworld