Working without contract - it's illegal?

[marouanintissar]

Hello, i'm new freelancer.

it is normal that your client asks you to start working without contract (Hire)? 

cordially!!

[wlyonsatl · Accepted solution]

No.

You and your client need to have a written agreement about what you say you will do for the client and what the client will pay you for your efforts.

If you decide to do any work without a contract in place, there is a likelihood you will never get paid. No reliable client who understands how Upwork works would make such a request.

[VladimirG]

Hi Marouan,

Could you please take a screenshot of the client's request and share it here? As Will mentioned, make sure you receive, review and accept an offer from this client on the platform in order for a contract to be created. If you're planning to set up the contract as a Fixed-Price type, make sure before accepting the offer that the agreed amount is fully funded through one or multiple Milestones, in order to have the payment covered by Upwork Payment Protection. Only afterwards you can start working on the client's job.

Please review these resources before continuing your communication with the client and taking further steps. Feel free to follow up with any additional questions.

[prestonhunter]

re: "Working without contract - it's illegal?"

Is it illegal to work without a contract? Is it against Upwork's ToS (their rules) to work without a contract?

Let's put aside those questions and point out a key fact:

If you work without a contract, you won't get paid.

That is a pretty important point. Because as a freelancer, you are here to get paid. You are not here to work for free.

So there is never a reason to work without a contract.

[17717dab]

And client says he do this lots of time, To work without any contract is illegal or just unethical?

**Edited for Community Guidelines**

[prestonhunter]

re: "And client says he do this lots of time, To work without any contract is illegal or just unethical?"

Well.. we don't like to use the word "illegal" when we talk about using Upwork. Because we should reserve the words "legal" and "illegal" for situations involving government-dictated bodies of law.

When talking about Upwork, it is better to use words and phrases such as "allowed" or "against the rules" or "a violation of Upwork TOS."

To address your question...

It is definitely UNETHICAL for a client to ask a freelancer to work for free.

Moreover, it IS A VIOLATION OF UPWORK TOS for a client to ask a freelancer to work without a contract or for a client to ask a freelancer to work for free.

[AleksandarD]

Hi Prabesh,

Please note that any request for free work is not allowed on Upwork, and it is a TOS violation. It's important to note that you should never start working without an active contract, which would show on your My Jobs page.

I shared your report with the team for investigation so that the appropriate actions can be taken according to our internal processes.

Thank you.

[17717dab]

Thank you, And yes Upwork Team has done a great job, I am amazed by the customer support of Upwork.
Lots of Kudos to the UPWORK SUPPORT TEAM.