$1 per 1,000 words and I cannot share my work with him as samples for future opportunities.

[#1]

So there was this client who needed content writers and was only willing to pay $1 per 1,000 words.

I am new here, so I accepted the offer on basis of publicity, rating and experience purposes. But now he tells me I cannot share any work done with him with future clients, not even as samples or proof of experience. The pay is bad enough, but so are the working conditions.

How do I handle this?

[#2]

re: "How do I handle this?"

The client already told you how to handle this.

You may not share this client's writing with other people. You asked. He said no. That's it. The work you did for the client belongs to the client.

[#3]

Why then do clients ask for samples of work if all work belongs to the previous clients which one was working for in the past?

By this logic, samples of previous work cannot be provided since it is always confidential and only belongs to former clients.

[#4]

Alabi:
If you are hired to do work on Upwork, then by default all rights to the work that you do belong to the client who pays you for the work.

This is the rule UNLESS you and the client make an alternative agreement before the contract begins.

You are ALWAYS allowed to ask a client to use the work you do in your portfolio, or otherwise display it. The client has the right to say "yes" or "no." MANY clients will be happy to let you use the writing you do for them as a portfolio piece.

[#5 · Accepted solution]

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Alabi T wrote:
Why then do clients ask for samples of work if all work belongs to the previous clients which one was working for in the past?

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Many clients, if you ask them, allow you to use the work. You MUST ask. 

You can also use samples from your own portfolio, from work you own the rights to and work you created for your portfolio.

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Alabi T wrote:
his logic, samples of previous work cannot be provided since it is always confidential and only belongs to former clients.

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Without permission, that is 100% correct.