I fully understand this guy, and if you haven't been to a third world country, you won't. Just an example that pop my mind: The people injured (because of security forces violence) during the Tunisian revolution are still not treated and compensated. The fucking reason? "I'm still making a list of these people, ehh, it should be ready hopefully by the next month... ehh, hey look there are around 900 of them. I'm doing a really great job. Once the list is ready, we'll see what to do". It's more than a year and just a fucking list of people names who have been injured is not ready.
NEVER, EVER do a business in a third-world country where the law isn't imposed properly. NEVER, EVER do business with a third-world company before taking up-front payment. Know this: It's impossible for them to transfer money. There are few cases when they can, and it'll take it to their central bank authorization before the money makes your hands.
I have a friend who has a Tunisian contractor. The guy went AWOL for a while and fell into major depression. He's back on track, but for a while, he was in dire financial straits, but couldn't figure out how to motivate himself out of his depression. He got injured in that revolution too. I had a long conversation with this guy. He was offered the money, but rejected it on the grounds that he couldn't accept money for service for his country. So he signed some papers saying that he refused the money, waiving his right to get it later. Later, he needed that money and couldn't even pay ISP or phone bills, which is why it was so hard for him to get in touch.
Basically, I think his story indicates to me that there were people who were given money? Or maybe they were promised, but never received it, don't know.
I didn't say the gov. didn't want to pay. They actually did massive, direct and no conditional pays in many times in the last year. The issue is with 9 person team that are complaining to work until 10 P.M. to get the list done. It's not about the will to pay or something, it's because "screw you", you know what "fuck you", who does even care?
Point is: Be careful making a business in 3rd world country.
Edit: Do you have his phone number or somehow to contact him? Maybe I could help him or something.
I have every way to contact him, but he's still doing contract work for my friend right now. He seems to be back on his feet and fairly happy. So don't think I'll do anything to bring up poor memories unnecessarily. :D
Pretty good. What the field he is contracting in? If it's Web/Mobile development, I'm interested to get in touch just for networking as the tech scene is small.
It seems like the issue here is a messed up HR dept, which is a worldwide phenomenon (and not limited to large corporations either. I had a similar experience with a small, supposedly do-gooder DC non-profit)
BTW, the author's story would actually be much more powerful if he used a more neutral tone and avoided references to "bunch of fucking assholes".
I'd rank working remotely for a third world country underneath moving cities to find work. (aka, the last last resort)
Most non-western countries have a habit of under-quoting software development, blowing out schedules and producing poor quality code. It's simply a culture gap because of pressures to preform. Countries where there's no social welfare, government labour oversight or business ethics tend to resort to these tactics just to stay alive. I can't blame them as I'd do the same thing in their shoes. Private contracts are no different to business contracts, so everyone's in the same boat.
NEVER, EVER do a business in a third-world country where the law isn't imposed properly. NEVER, EVER do business with a third-world company before taking up-front payment. Know this: It's impossible for them to transfer money. There are few cases when they can, and it'll take it to their central bank authorization before the money makes your hands.