Many tech giants, such as Facebook, Microsoft, and Twitter, are finally accepting the reality of the COVID-19 pandemic. This means that, since the conditions are optimal, they can now switch to remote work indefinitely. While this is wonderful news for literally everyone, it’s also arriving at a time where it places pressure on other industries to catch up within an ephemeral time frame.
Not only do smaller businesses now have to do the due diligence to even get into this new trend, but it’s going to result in chaos when we are finally able to travel freely – because, let’s face it, freelance and remote work laws hardly exist anywhere with regards to immigration. The bureaucracy makes it incredibly difficult to prove that you’re merely interested in working remotely in a foreign territory and countries just want you to get that standard work visa with an invitation letter. So what does this mean for the remote workforce, employers, and, well, the world?
Instead of iterating that companies should have done this years ago, and that governments should have actually considered the opinions of the youthful majority and not only from those who don’t even know how to operate a mobile phone, I’ll focus on the present and the future.
Government policies are complex when it comes to employment visas. They care about the benefit they will receive, usually in the form of taxes tied to registered companies. However, no one considers the fact that middle class remote entrepreneurs will stay for the long-term and use their profits to spend on local businesses. If local businesses thrive, they won’t have to rely on government assistance – and digital nomads, for instance, never hesitate on visiting the smaller cities and villages to travel while earning an income and putting that money into the local economy.
Furthermore, during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, we have been forced to adapt. It all feels great, but does it count as “work” when you’re living in a foreign country? For most governments, working remotely DOES count as work. It just depends on whether it’s permitted on your visa/permit. But, if it counts as work, why isn’t it super easy to work remotely in basically any country for an extended period of time?
Sadly, it’s because the system is outdated. Governments were focused on other priorities; tech and immigration was never a hot topic… anywhere. Now that governments are forced to consider the ramifications of the aforementioned and the COVID-19 pandemic, however, what will the future hold for those working remotely?
Naturally, we can’t see into the future, but I am willing to bet that at least several countries will be rolling out remote work permits within the next few years. Not only due to the fact that the industry giants are doing it, but tourism will be at an all-time low after this COVID-19 pandemic – which is all the more reason that something like this will actually be the “innovative” plan that will save many tourism industries, and governments, from financial collapse. Does this mean that we will all be easily accepted into foreign countries to work remotely, happily ever after? Probably not. There is always the bureaucratic paradox that makes it so frustrating that you’d rather give up. Such as when the requirement is that you show proof of working remotely, but the proof you require would mean that you registered with a company in that country specifically and that you are registered as an employee through their tax system. Yes, I apologize for dropping that bomb.
We can only hope that, with regards to immigration amid the COVID-19 pandemic, governments and other relevant organizations will review their policies for remote workers and freelancers. Once this has all passed, we will (hopefully) see countries welcoming us with open arms so that we can enjoy that Zoom meeting while relaxing in a remote cabin – that somehow has WiFi – or writing that latest piece while admiring the sunset over the ocean.
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