Did new policy took place ?

[Sheikh Ahsan A]

I had new that after 16/11/2014 no one can place bid below $3.00/hr in oDesk. But I am not seeing any change of this rules. People still bidding lower.

[Manish A]

Yeah you are right, it doesn't seems to be in effect, I can also see bids close to $0.50.

Even I am able to bid less then that.

[Valeria K]

Hi Sheikh and Manish,

Although freelancers can bid below $3/hour, clients will not be able to make an offer for less than $3/hour to freelancers they haven't had contracts with before. I hope it clarifies the policy a little bit.

[David G]

I'm a little confused by this.

Are you saying that even if a freelancer makes a bid of $1.00, that freelancer still can't be hired for less that $3.00 (assuming the freelancer has never worked for that client)?

If that's the case, why not just stop freelancers from being able to bid less than $3.00?

[Manish A]

WOW! My post has been removed.

Great.

[Junelle A]

David, i guess they're thinking like our government: instead of banning cigarettes, they simply increase sin tax and hike the prices.

i know, sorry, wasn't an appropriate explanation. i just couldn't figure it out myself (and i have a feeling oDesk doesn't either).

[Ronnel D]

Hello Valeria,

I think this is a mistake. I was hired recently with an offer below $3/hour. In my application, my bid was actually $3, then I received an offer and the client was able to change the terms and made an offer below my original proposal.

Could you please clarify this?

[David G]

Did you ever work for this client before?

If you have worked for the client before then the client can hire you at a rate lower than $3.00.

If you haven't worked with the client before, when did the contract go through? The new minimum wage policy only came into effect a couple of days ago.

[Ronnel D]

No, he is a new client.

The offer was sent November 16th and I accepted the contract the same day. I was expecting then that the new policy already took place. But seeing the clients STILL are able to make an offer below the minimum figure, I don't think the new policy exists.

[Manish A]

Hi, finally got to know, the new minimum rate is not currently in effect due to a bug.

http://community.odesk.com/t5/Announcements/Elevating-our-workplace-with-a-new-minimum-rate/m-p/5615...