Serpentine Leaf - actually, I have freelanced for years. The last three years with a real work contract were the first time in ages I had that sort of situation and it did not end well. Plus, I am in a country going through an economic implosion so permanent jobs are few and far between at the moment.

I know what to watch out for and do not apply to things on sites that look shady like that. I just mentioned that example, because it shocked me that people were actually bidding for a job that paid US$2 an hour.

I am currently doing projects for one company that does pay decent money and is paying me quickly. I will see how much work I get from this before deciding if I should look for additional work or not.

Unions are a thing of the past in many countries/industries. Here, they are mainly in the public sector and a few companies like the national copper company.