Request for Proposals

To Conduct a Study for

“USAID Asia Counter Trafficking in Persons program (USAID Asia CTIP)”

Deadline for receipt of proposals: January 10, 2022

About the Program

This research project is commissioned by the USAID Asia Counter Trafficking in Persons (CTIP) program, a seven-year (2016-2023) regional program that focuses on transnational and regional challenges to combat trafficking in persons. The program, implemented by Winrock International, aims to reduce the trafficking of persons in Asia through coordinated and consolidated action by governments, civil society, and businesses that will foster cross-border cooperation, develop opportunities for private-sector leadership, and improve the quality of data associated with human trafficking.

Context of the Research

Legal, safe, and affordable migration helps can fill gaps in the labor market, contributing to overall prosperity. However, without appropriate protections unchecked labor migration can also increase vulnerability and increase the risk of human trafficking.

Migrant workers from neighboring countries around Thailand’s border are around 3 percent of its labor force (Sakulsri, 2020). According to Foreign Workers Administration Office (FWAO), Thailand houses more than 1.5 million foreign workers from four neighbouring countries (Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam). Combinging foreign workers employed through Thailand’s MoUs and under the Thai Cabinet Resolution on 20^th August 2019, the top three industries employing these migrant workers as of October 2021 are: construction (278,124 workers); agriculture, agri-processing, and livestock (231,645 workers); and services (143,814 workers). FWAO also reports an increasing number of seasonal migrants coming to Thailand, which was at its peak of 65,991 workers in December 2019 before the COVID-19 pandemic forced its decline to 23,355 workers in May 2020 and eventually to zero from June 2020 until present. The border pass, prescribed in the Section 64 of the Thai Foreigners’ Working Management Decree, that these workers had was designed for seasonal workers in some border districts. According to Sakulsri (2020) and the Thai Public Relations Department, the pass allows multiple entries, and its validity varies from one to two years depending on the worker’s country of origin. While these passes seem to offer a long time to migrant workers, their work permits last for 90 days only. The author recorded that Thailand has made efforts to improve the policies involving the process of employment and increase protection of migrant workers.

Cambodia is one of the major sending countries in the migration corridors to Thailand, with more than 650,000 of its workers filling Thailand’s labor shortages and contributing to the economy (IOM and ARCM, 2019). To reduce migrants’ vulnerability to trafficking and to encourage labor and social protection polices to seasonal migrants in Thailand, this research will explore the current policies pertaining to seasonal migration to Thailand, particularly from Cambodia.

Research Selection Process

The total budget for the research will be approximately USD 30,000 (the full amount remains to be confirmed). The research is anticipated to take approximately three (3) months of full-time work commencing in early 2022.

The primary scope of this research should focus on Risks and vulnerability faced by Cambodian seasonal workers in Thai supply chains. With this primary focus, the research will explore:

• The policy framework, access to social protection, and the vulnerability of current Cambodian seasonal workers across all sectors in Thailand after the impact of COVID-19 pandemic

• Policy framework such as border passes provided by different countries of origin and the work permits and visas issued by the Thai government,

• How the current settings such as existing policies, costs of migration, the migration processes and other factors, contribute to vulnerability and exploitation of seasonal migrant workers,

• The protective measures that are being implemented and their enforcement, and

• Areas where policies and their implementation can be strengthened.

The research must provide evidence-based recommendations to the concerned governments and the businesses in the supply chains.

Application Information

All forms in the application package must be legibly typed in English, in 12-point font, and include:

1. Cover letters.

2. Title sheet.

3. A full proposal.

4. Required attachments.

   1. Personnel summary.

   2. CVs.

   3. Project budget.

   4. Letter of support from each PR’s institution.

   5. Copy of the document certifying the legal status of each PR’s institution.

   6. IRB approval processes.

Interested research teams or individuals must submit their application by January 10, 2022 to AsiaCTIP@winrock.org with “Application for Seasonal Migration Research” in the subject line. USAID Asia CTIP team will carefully examine all complete concept notes. Successful applicants will be notified via email and enter the selection process.

For further information and detailed description of the application package, please find the full version of this request for proposal attached below.

https://www.thaingo.org/jobs/files/TOR_Seasonal Migration Rev (1).pdf