Globalized Labor: On Remote Work
“Why did the globe apply for a certification? It wanted to be well-rounded in the global job market!”
2020 was something. I personally experienced a lot of things, and somehow amidst the chaos, something fascinating happened — our perceptions of remote work were forever altered.
Picture this: waking up, rolling out of bed, and strolling a few steps to your “office” — the cozy corner of your bedroom. No more traffic jams, breathing pollution, uncomfortable bras, or simply gaining enough energy to “get ready”. If it were not for the COVID-19 pandemic, remote work went from being a distant dream to a full-blown reality for millions of people worldwide, myself included.
I am not foreign to remote work; other than the “digital nomads” trend (mostly Caucasian people in Bali and other “exotic islands”), I have been working as a translator and ESL teacher ever since I was at university as a side gig. I found clients from different cities, and I teach English on WhatsApp a few years before the pandemic. It pays alright I reckon, I can’t say it covers daily living but I had no responsibility to pay my expenses since my parents still supported me financially back then.
This month marked my 2 years journey as (initially) remote worker. I was employed with a full-time teaching job fully remote before I moved to the capital since the company no longer has a WFA policy. It was absolute hell for me. I can’t stand the noise, expensive housing, I can’t stand the hustle and bustle. I was working for a start-up, and we all know there was a startup winter that changed almost every aspect of my professional life which affected my personal life.
Long story short, I long for remote work again, mainly for two reasons; I am sick of the unpaid labor of preparing and recovering from work, and I need some time flexibility to deal with my postgraduate plan.
I don’t really believe in luck but I guess this was one for me. This time I had a relatively high career leap and the payment was much better than I expected. I managed to secure a job in another Ed-Tech, this time with an HQ in London, and it has a relatively big market in SEA. The thing is this company doesn’t even have an office in the country that I live in. The only physical building in SEA is in Singapore.
While the shift to remote work brought newfound freedom and flexibility, it also came with its fair share of challenges and drawbacks. As we traded office cubicles for home offices, we discovered that remote work was not all sunshine and rainbows, especially after I read the comic that I put at the top of this article.
I am beyond grateful for what I make from my job, I feel that I am competent and I believe working is the most feasible way for me to self-actualize under capitalism, but somehow I realize that if I were a person from the UK I won’t be paid this much. I would be paid double or even triple what I make here. It was an eye-opening moment that made me reflect on the stark differences in living standards and economic conditions between countries, it is accelerated by globalization and remote working.
It’s important to acknowledge that globalization has had its fair share of impact on the job market, and it’s not all that convenience for the long haul. Sure, I count myself lucky to ride the wave and get paid better thanks to globalization. But let’s face it, the job market has become a wild jungle out there. With people from different corners of the globe vying for the same gigs, it’s like a never-ending competition that can drive down wages and job security. It’s a concern we can’t ignore. It’s a concern I can’t ignore. It’s crucial to keep an eye on the bigger picture and work towards a job market that’s fairer, more stable and ensures everyone gets a shot at a decent living, no matter where they’re from.
