Wednesday, January 07, 2015

Naira Devaluation May Increase Job Outsourcing
Nigerian Punch

There are indications that Nigerian companies will increase the rate at which they outsource jobs to foreigners at cheaper rates in order to cut costs.

With the recent devaluation of the currency and the expected hike in operational cost, employers in the services sector, who spoke with our correspondent, said efficient and reliable professionals on online platforms who charge cheaper rates would be another option.

This plan, according to them would serve as an alternative for organisations to execute some duties when they downsize.

The Chief Executive Officer, The Learning Edge, Mr. Kingsley Aigbona, says a freelancing platform which offers this opportunity comprises professionals from Phillipines, Pakistan, India, Ecuador, Mumbai, and America.

He added that there were indigenous companies operating within the country but had their customer service department in countries like Philippines because it was cheaper than having full- time staff working for them.

Aigbona said, “For example, a few days ago, I wanted a task to be executed for me and I asked a Nigerian to do it for N15, 000 per unit but I got somebody in India who was willing to do it for me for less than N3,000 per unit and would deliver it faster.

“Data entry is a very crucial task that if you want to get someone here to assist you it will require a salary of between N70,000 and N120, 000 per month and this is something you can easily get someone to do it for you are outside the country and pay less than 30 per cent of that amount and the same job will be done more efficiently than when it is done within the country.”

The Chief Executive Officer, Mobile Rechargespot Limited, Mr. Michael Emmanuel, said these professionals in online platform could executive tasks which ranged from public relations to Information Technology solutions, web designing, content writing and customer service.

He added that these professionals finished their task at faster and cheaper rates than when a Nigerian was contracted.

Explaining how it works, he said, “Once you put a full job description of what you want to do there, a lot of professionals will apply. You review jobs they have handled successfully, their credibility and other useful information that will help in making a decision on the professional who can do the job.”

According to Emmanuel, the money is paid upfront on the online platform which serves as an intermediary and could return the money if the output is unsatisfactory.

Moreover, the Chief Executive Officer, PEX Multitrade Limited said in contrast with an employee whose performance could be measured only after a month, there were tools to measure performance at every step of the task in order to measure progress in real time.

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