EMPLOYMENT OF FREELANCERS IN ARTS AND CREATIVE SECTORS

EMPLOYMENT OF FREELANCERS IN ARTS AND CREATIVE SECTORS

39.

Ms Audrey Wong Wai Yen asked the Acting Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts (a) whether his Ministry has statistics on the current number of freelance workers in the arts and creative sectors; (b) whether his Ministry has conducted studies on the contributions of freelancers in these sectors as well as their working conditions, such as average pay and CPF contributions, and if they have been affected by the economic downturn; and (c) if his Ministry has any plans to look into these freelance workers’ needs, given that the arts and creative sectors are set to grow in the future.

RAdm [NS] Lui Tuck Yew: I thank the Nominated Member for her interest in the situation and needs of freelancers in the arts and creative sectors.

We have seen the nature of work evolve in recent times. One of the major changes we have witnessed is the increasing prevalence of freelancing. (9) This trend is especially clear in industries like arts, design and media, where work and employment tend to be more project-based. Indeed, international studies have shown that freelancers play a significant role in these sectors across the world. (10)

This trend holds true in Singapore as well. A MICA-commissioned study on freelancers across the arts, media, design and software and IT services sectors in Singapore was completed by NUS in 2007. While the dynamic nature of freelance work complicates the process of estimation, the study found that freelancers could constitute up to one-third of the workforce in the creative industries. (11)

The study also shed some light on the working conditions of freelancers. Among other things, it found that freelancers tend to be versatile and work in more than one sector (12), and depend heavily on personal contacts and networks to secure clients. (13) Freelancers also face a large extent of variability in obtaining work and income. For example, a significant portion of freelancers (31.5%) reported that there is no typical year in terms of income. Similarly, a sizeable portion (41.1%) indicated that they face a variable number of clients each year.

While this study was conducted before the onset of the economic downturn, anecdotal evidence has led MICA to believe that its findings are just as relevant today. The study noted that the main difficulties faced by freelancers were related to remuneration and information gaps. (14) These issues continue to be pertinent and pressing, even as we emerge from the trough of the economic crisis.

MICA has taken these findings seriously, and put in place plans to help freelancers. We have worked with the private sector to develop a Creative Industries Freelancer Network (CIFN). The CIFN aims to address some of the concerns of freelancers, by providing avenues for them to acquire more information, contacts and capabilities. It will provide a contact database and services such as training courses and networking opportunities with potential employers. The CIFN portal is currently in development, and will be tested and rolled out to the public in phases from January 2010.

Freelancers are also able to tap on a range of capability development and assistance schemes offered by MICA agencies. These include the Media Development Authority’s (MDA) Media Training and Attachment (META) programme, the DesignSingapore Council’s (DSG) Capability Development Programme, and the National Arts Council’s (NAC) Arts Creation Fund and International Artist Residency Programme. MICA will continue to explore ways to supplement these programmes, as part of our constant drive to develop the creative industries.

(9) Freelancers are defined as including:
a. those who are in full-time employment but who take on ad hoc projects that are not a part of their duties of full-time employment;
b. those who are "full-time freelancers"; and
c. those who have sole proprietorships and take on individual projects independently.

(10) A 2002 survey shows that 28% of New York’s creative industries workforce was self-employed (Centre for Urban Future, 2005:6). In 2004, London’s equivalent figure was 20%, while the overall for UK was about 30% (London’s Creative Sector Update Report, 2004:20). A 2001 report of the European Commission indicated that, for the EU-15, there were 1.3 freelancers for every regular employee in the TIMES sector (telecommunication, internet, multimedia, e-commerce, software and security).

(11) Based on surveyed establishments’ declaration of the number of full-time employees and freelancers employed, the total number of freelancers as a proportion of CI manpower is estimated to be 33%. This translates to about 29,000 freelancers in CI. However, these figures are high estimates as individual freelancers could have been counted multiple times.

(12) 75.1% of freelancers surveyed reported freelancing in more than one sector.

(13) 87.5% of freelancers surveyed indicated that clients were secured largely through personal contacts, and 84.1% indicated referrals.

(14) The top five difficulties encountered by freelancers surveyed were: not being paid in a timely way (68.2%); not being paid adequately (62.3%); lack of benefits (59.8%); insufficient jobs/insecure income (58.3%), and unclear industry price benchmarks (54.5%).