I feel like when people defend low rates, they're fundamentally misunderstanding a lot about what freelance translation really entails. So here's a quick thread of things to consider before you say "but if you do X pages per Y minutes you'll actually be a millionaire!"

1. The rate covers more than just the actual tl work. In a salaried position, your salary would cover spent replying to emails, organising your schedule, reading supporting documentation, etc. Freelancers need to build in the time, and therefore cost, for all these things.

2. Similarly to above, you bear the cost of any necessary equipment yourself, which needs to be factored in. You can't just call IT to fix your computer issue, or ask your boss to get you a subscription to that online dictionary.

3. Time. People seriously underestimate the amount of time producing a good, polished translation takes. If you come across a joke or cultural reference, you might spend half an hour on one line in order to get it right. You're not churning this stuff out like a machine.

4. Tax. You've gotta pay tax on that rate. Enough said.

5. Skill. This is the hardest to explain to people without translation experience, but there is a high degree of skill involved, and this should factor into the pay. The client is not only paying for your work, but the training and education behind that work.

6. This is a personal one, but the attitude of the company matters a lot to me when considering acceptable rates. Do they treat their freelancers well? Do they have a high turnover? Do they credit you? Offer any perks? There are things to consider other than the cold hard cash.

If somewhere is going to ask me to be a faceless, uncredited contractor then I'm going to need higher pay to compensate for the lack of non-monetary value the gig is providing me with.

7. Instability. Working freelance comes with a high degree of instability, which should in theory should mean rates come with an added premium, especially since any company hiring freelancers isn't having to provide the additional benefits they might to salaried staff.

In conclusion: Whether you're a freelancer yourself or simply commenting on the industry, it's important to look behind the figures and think about what they entail in terms of a person being able to support themselves doing that work.

I don't think it's fair for for-profit industries to be kept afloat on the back of unsustainable labour practices and pay that can't adequately support their own workforce. Imo, a company is not just about generating profit, it's also about providing for its employees.

Maybe I'm just idealistic, but what is the point of a company that succeeds only by exploiting its workforce?