Upwork Adds Direct Withdrawals to JazzCash and Easypaisa

ISLAMABAD: Upwork has begun offering direct withdrawals to local mobile wallets in Pakistan. JazzCash, Easypaisa, NayaPay, SadaPay and Finja now appear as options, with funds credited in rupees within minutes of a request.

The addition gives Pakistani freelancers a faster way to reach their earnings. Until now, most of them have relied on Payoneer or a local bank. Payoneer is a common route for marketplace payments, and users then withdraw to a bank account. The option Upwork offers for local banks is its Direct to Local Bank service. Upwork charges $0.99 per withdrawal on that route, while banks may add their own fees, and Upwork says payments should arrive within four days.

Mobile wallets are already part of everyday money handling in Pakistan, and the link between freelancing and wallets is not new. Payoneer partnered with JazzCash in the past so that users could receive funds directly into a JazzCash account. The new Upwork option removes the need for a separate service for those who prefer to keep money in a wallet.

For freelancers, the main change is speed. A wallet credit within minutes compares with a wait of days for a bank transfer. The wallets also suit people who pay bills, send money to family or cash out through agents, because the money lands where they already spend it.

Some questions remain. Upwork has not been quoted here on the fee for wallet withdrawals, the exchange rate it applies, or any limits on amounts. Freelancers should check the figures shown on screen before they confirm a withdrawal, and keep records of their transfers for tax purposes.