The freelancing scene in Singapore has evolved considerably in recent years, especially when it comes to high-end professionals such as app developers. This may seem like a good sign, but it is rejected by the low economic growth of the country. There was only 0.2% growth during the latest quarter compared to the previous quarter’s 6.2% improvement as reported by Focus Economics. Earlier this year, the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) raised concerns about unknown variables in the freelance industry and has since announced measures to help freelancers, including a job fair to connect them with new clients.
Let’s look at the basic realities and compare the pros and cons of choosing freelance Android development for a living in Singapore.
The good news
Freedom
The biggest advantage of being an independent developer is freedom. You don’t have anyone breathing down your neck and you can choose which job to accept. Having direct conversations with clients gives you a better idea of what they want and no one can interfere with your creative process. This makes things more efficient and you only need to respond to the customer.
easy to enter
The Android industry is progressing spectacularly in Singapore at the moment. The country was the first in Asia to introduce Android Pay, the new version of Google Wallet, in collaboration with MasterCard last month. There are plenty of resources to get you started on your own and fewer Google Play Store restrictions during app launch.
Effective cost
Apple and other major operating systems are expensive when it comes to development. Both hardware and software are expensive, which makes things difficult for an independent app developer. Android is the best option with a one-time registration fee of 25 USB compared to Apple’s $99 per year. The standard 30% commission applies to app sales on the Google Play Store.
free SDK
An app developer cannot survive without tools, so you also need to take a closer look at the costs involved. The cost of the Apple SDK is included in the annual iOS Developer Program fee, but the Android SDK is completely free and available for download on Windows, Linux, etc.
the time is right
With the Android industry raging in Singapore right now, there couldn’t be a better time to look for a freelance Android app developer. The growth is expected to pick up in the near future as there is a huge market for Android apps in the country.
The bad news
Fragmentation
There are so many versions of Android still in use among the population that most companies prefer to release their Android app on more than one. There is still more to come, making it more difficult to design apps for numerous versions according to device specifications.
Less legal protection
Since there is no proper union for freelancers in Singapore, they are not eligible for benefits such as medical, leave, legal rights like regular employees. However, positive steps are being taken in this direction. In March this year, the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) emphasized that self-employed workers required a reliable system to safeguard their rights.
payment problems
The biggest issue with freelancing is money, although native Android app developers are highly paid and in high demand. Even when the task is complete, the customer may be lazy to transfer their payment. They are often under the impression that rates are negotiable and that they can do the job cheaper just because you are a freelancer. There is also no annual raise like permanent employees receive.
no property
Being an independent developer sometimes means you can’t claim confidential and intellectual property rights to your work. This can hinder your career growth, and of course you can turn down jobs like these, narrowing down your options.
No third party support
If your professional rights are violated in any way, you cannot seek help from a union because such a thing does not exist in Singapore. You will have to give up or settle for much less because there is no adequate representation for you by law.