ThaiNGO

As an international cooperation enterprise for sustainable development with worldwide operations, the German government owned Deutsche Gesellschaft fuer Internationale Zusammenarbeit  (GIZ) GmbH operates on behalf of German Ministries, the governments of other countries and international clients. GIZ has a record of more than 55 years working in Thailand.  For a project on “Improving Living Conditions for Migrant Workers in the Thai Shrimp Industry” we are currently looking for a Project Assistant.

Project Assistant

Thailand is one of the world’s largest shrimp producers. The country’s shrimp production is almost exclusively for the export market (ca. 90% of production). Its shrimp industry is mainly based in the provinces of Samut Sakhon and Ranong and plays a crucial role within Thailand’s economic and social development. However, this very labour-intensive industry has become a strong magnet for migrant labourers. Most workers in the shrimp sector are primarily low-qualified day labourers, coming originally from poorer neighbouring countries, mainly from Myanmar (up to 95%). Thus, migrants typically work and live under high legal and personal uncertainty.

In 2015, it was reported that about 263,000 documented migrant workers live in Samut Sakhon (almost half of the population). Estimations say that another 300,000 to 400,000 undocumented migrants live and work in Samut Sakhon. In 2012, there were in total 809 registered fish processing factories in Samut Sakhon, two thirds of which are small enterprises. Large enterprises do mostly pay the official daily minimum wage. In order to reduce costs, many large companies work with smaller processing plants as their subcontractors that carry out the more labour-intensive work. The conditions in the smaller facilities are substantially more problematic as these are neither officially registered nor inspected.

The project will work in the migrant communities and attempts to ease the migrants’ living conditions through legal advice and providing health and education services.

Responsibilities:

Project Assistant will work under the guidance of Project Manager and will be based at the Field Office in Samut Sakhon province, Thailand.

The project assistant is responsible for

Supporting Project Manager in the implementation of project activities

Daily operational administrative affairs, i.e. liaising with GIZ Office, counterparts, and other stakeholders; communications, travel management, management of enquiries and scheduling of meetings, etc.

Assisting project staff, consultants, counterpart staff and other stakeholders in meeting their administrative needs which fall under the project’s objective.

Preparing meetings, seminars and workshops and documenting the results as well as arranging workshop equipment and material;

Providing administrative support to the project, especially translations from Thai into English and vice versa;

Drafting official letters to stakeholders upon request of the Project Director.

Qualifications:

We are looking for a candidate who preferably possesses (the equivalent of):

Bachelor degree in relevant field of work or related studies;

At least 1 year of professional working experience in a similar position;

Ability to communicate with and relate easily to both international and national colleagues;

Good working knowledge of modern telecommunication systems (telephone, fax, e-mail, internet and its software);

Excellent command of Thai and English in writing and speaking

This will be a fixed-term contract, starting January 2016 and running until June 2017 (with possibility of extension for the 2nd Phase).

Please submit your application and CV to chattayada.pattaragulwanit@giz.de. The deadline for applications is Friday December 18, 2015. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

GIZ Office Bangkok

Mrs. Chattayada Pattaragulwanit

193/63 Lake Rajada Office Complex, New Ratchadapisek Road, Klongtoey, Bangkok 10110