Medibang has responded to allegations that it is giving is translators low wages. This is due to an email from the company to a translator that was released that didn’t sit well with many. Due to that medibang has released an official statement to clarify things.
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We would like to clarify the misunderstanding caused by a previous email we sent to freelance translation applicants.
We at MediBang do not require our freelance translators to both translate and typeset our manga contents. We hire separate typesetting specialists to letter, redraw, and clean manga pages. Our translators are hired strictly for the purposes of translation. However, in special cases where an individual has translation and typesetting experience, we negotiate a unit price per page that reflects the costs of both tasks.
In addition, we also hire separate editors and quality assurance staff to edit and proofread our manga contents before release. All of these positions are hired separately.
The 120 yen unit price per page is only an initial starting price, and the lowest rate we offer. It is a starting rate both parties agree to with the understanding that rates will fluctuate based on project type and experience.
Our freelance translation contract can also be terminated at any time at the discretion of the translator, and our freelance staff are not required to sign non-compete clauses. Freelance translation staff are also free to turn down any projects offered which they do not wish to take on.
We apologize for any misunderstandings this has caused. We have taken community feedback to heart and will strive to make improvements to our localization department in the future.”
Now the translator who received this message and sent out has also put out there own statement showing they are not happy with company response.
“To me, the statement doesn’t make them look any better since the things they seemingly listed as pros for working for them (contract termination, no non-compete clause) should be industry standard. Some places do make you sign a non-compete, but it’s generally considered a bit of a red flag among freelancers.
Additionally, asking freelancers to agree to a ‘starting rate’ without any information about when and how they can expect that rate to go up is another red flag, especially when said starting rate is already way below the norm. I don’t really see the point of asking for our rates in the application if those weren’t going to be taken into consideration. I think they really shot themselves in the foot by sending the exact same email to everyone who applied, including experienced translators who find these rates almost insulting” Meru
To learn more please check out the full article in the link to see more as there are also response to Media Bang statement from other translators.
Article:MediBang Responds to Allegations Regarding Low Translation Pay Rates – Interest – Anime News Network
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