Been there. As exploited, exploiter, and big big company working around the exploiters. It sounds like you work for a middle man. The client would be happy to

Been there. As exploited, exploiter, and big big company working around the exploiters. It sounds like you work for a middle man. The client would be happy to hire you directly, but probably have to deal with the logistics of hiring someone in a foreign country. To them, what matters is the work gets done, even at a high price. That's why they go through the company. If you quit, the work doesn't get done. This happens a lot with exploitative agencies, people quit, they get replaced. It's ideal for the big big comoany to hire you directly. They save money, which probably isn't their main concern. But you'll also work with the best people money can buy, on projects like the one you're doing plus other more confidential ones they won't outsource. tldr: Find a better job. It might not be in a first world company (visa restrictions suck). But there's probably better agencies, like Toptal, who'll take care of you.