Just had my first official task completed by a virtual assistant at Odesk and I am very pleased.
I had a young enterprising lady from Indonesia extract some information from websites that I might have done on my own. I paid her $2.78 and hour and I am very pleased.
Some question the ethics of an experiment like this. They might say I am using slave labor, taking advantage of someone, or giving a job to someone that an American could do.
First, it is not “Slavery.” I posted a job and 30+ people responded all vying for the position and competing based on their wage (which they use to bid), how long it will take them, and the quality of work they have done in the past. Far from slavery. They volunteer.
I am not taking advantage of anyone. In China, the average college graduate makes $538 per month in their first year after graduation. That translates to $3.55 an hour if they work a 40 hour work week. In Indonesia, these people must put food on the table anyway they can. For them to earn extra money when they are not working a day job is great for them.
Yes, this is something an American worker can do. However, an American would be much more expensive for the same quality. As Warren Buffet once stated (paraphrasing) “Firms will always seek lower wages for the same quality.” This is why some firms are moving away from China and onto Vietnam and Thailand (there has been an inflation to Chinese wages).
Also, she can work while I am asleep due to the time difference. This is a tremendous plus!
So, these places get a bad rap sometimes, but Odesk does a lot of good in this world.
