So pleased to hear a couple of other people are giving the self employed route a go.
I have another tidbit of feedback about being a self employed DP holder. This is not such good news, but is important for people to know. After gaining my own LOC, I immediately approached another nearby
International School about relief teaching. The principal was enthusiastic about the combination of subjects I could teach and approved my application on the spot. She sent my paperwork to the school's HR department so they could get me signed up (so to speak).
Unfortunately the HR department could not understand the nature of my self employed LOC, and insisted that they needed to apply for one for me. I explained that there was no need, and that their application would be refused anyway, as I already had an LOC. We basically came to an impass, as the HR people said "that's not how we do it". I pointed out that what they really meant was "we've not done it like that before" and that other schools were happily employing me in this way. To no avail. Pleas from the Principal also fell on deaf ears.
I gave up on them, a bit worried and disheartened. Had I created more problems for myself? Were all potential employers going to baulk at the self employed bit?
Then I applied for , and was offered work with a corporate training organisation. Their HR department was more familiar with self employed "consultants" and even had a contract for me.
So now I am merrily flitting between three main employers and working , on average, 2 - 3 days a week. Which is what I wanted.
My point is that clearly some employers may not be willing to do something different for you, and may be very set in their ways about employment procedures. Even a "western" employer like an international school, may have an HR department that is locked into a very Singaporean mindset of "this is our procedure which we doggedly follow even if it makes no sense".
Good luck fellow would be freelancers!