ThaiNGO

Plan International Thailand : Job Advertisement

Terms of Reference

Consultant/ Service Contract on the Analysis of Job Opportunities for Cambodian Migrants in Rayong Province

I.Introduction                                                                                        

Plan International is currently implementing the Stopping Exploitation through Accessible Services (SEAS of Change) Project through the support of the Federation’s Swedish National Office, Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), Finland National Office and Kesko Corporation.  This innovative initiative engages a wide array of internal offices across the Plan Federation along with external actors including private sector partners, governments and local communities.  Key offices within the Federation included Plan International Sweden, Plan International Finland, Plan International Asia Regional Office, Plan International Thailand, and Plan International Cambodia. 

Plan seeks to contribute to a fishing industry that is free from exploitative child labour and that offers decent work opportunities for all, particularly migrant populations. 

The project will identify critical entry points along the fishing supply chain and develop a multi-pronged approach to contribute to fortifying it against exploitation and abuse.   Plan will work with both producers communities in Thailand and consumer societies in Sweden and Finland, along with intermediary buyers and labour brokers in order to contribute to a fishing industry that is free from hazardous and exploitative child labour and offers decent work opportunities for all, particularly migrant populations in Thailand.

Education

Quality education is key in preventing child labour and in creating a protective environment for migrant children and young people from engaging in exploitative child labour. The major components of the intervention combine formal education, pre-primary teacher training and awareness raising, provision of learning materials, community participation, school improvement, awareness raising for parents on education for migrant children and advocacy on education for migrant children.

Livelihoods

The livelihood strategy will be launched through alternative skills and entrepreneurship training conducted in Thailand and coordination with existing NGOs, government agencies and companies to provide life-skills and vocational training or to offer internship or on-the-job training for migrant children conducted in both Thailand and Cambodia.  The most vulnerable young parents and youth aged 18-25 will have improved access to opportunities for employment and livelihood services.   

Social Protection

By mobilizing and linking to existing public sector social protection options, the project will help create a safety net for vulnerable families that will improve living conditions, have more education and decent work opportunities, and contribute to child labour prevention and reduction.

Supply Chain Engagement

Greater transparency and accountability in the fishing supply chain will lead to improved human rights and increased opportunities for decent work. Plan seeks to engage informal/formal labour brokers, local and national export suppliers, wholesale importers and retailers in order to positively impact the situation in fishing communities. Plan Sweden and Finland will also engage corporate partners in order to pressure and promote national and local suppliers in Thailand to deliver positive change in the supply chain.

II.Background on the situation of Cambodian migrant workers in Thailand

Plan Thailand, Plan Cambodia, and Plan Sweden, supported by Sida, conducted a baseline study on the situation of Cambodian migrant workers in the fishing industry in Thailand, including the children and young workers as well as factors influencing their migration in early 2014. The study was intended to provide a mutual understanding and knowledge based on the situations faced by child migrant workers in Thai fishing industry. The study was conducted in 4 provinces of Thailand; namely, Samut Sakhon, Chon Buri, Rayong, and Trat, and in 3 cities in Cambodia; namely, Kompong Cham, Battambang, and Siem Reap. These areas were selected for being communities with large group of migrant workers with families including children.

Key findings from the study on the Cambodian workers situation in Thailand include:

Push factors behind migration and ways to migrate

•           The major reason for migrating to Thailand is in search for employment or to accompany family and relatives as well as to help repay family debts

•           20% said that they had been promised high wages and benefits from the fishing sector

•           The majority was contacted by local brokers in their home communities and persuaded to go to Thailand and crossed the border illegally via trucks

•           Many illegal migrant children workers lack the knowledge about safe migration and trafficking

Working conditions and prevalence of child labour

•           The majority of the responding workers had no work permit and mostly lacked proper identification documents

•           At least half of the respondents attempted to escape from the fishing boats due to abusive work environment, improper pay, threatening with shot gun by their captains

•           Approximately 10 percent of the responding workers were under 18 and it is common that children at the age of 13 start to work either on boats or close to piers. These children do not attend school and are at the highest risk for ending up in exploitive work situations or other kinds of harmful environments.

•           Lack of identification documents, parents and employer attitudes were also mentioned as main reasons behind why these children do not attend school, even if they have the legal rights

Thailand is a major destination for migrant workers from neighbouring countries – Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia and to some extent Vietnam. Migrant workers end up in low-income jobs such as the agricultural sector, construction and fisheries. The situation for these migrants has been described in several studies revealing that many of the migrant work illegally which puts them in a very vulnerable situation. Bad working conditions, forced labour, withheld wages, beatings, threats and underage workers are common concerns.

SEAS of Change project is trying to increase household income, living condition and working condition of Cambodian migrants in Rayong province through livelihood intervention. Accordingly, we want to plan our intervention well based on information and evidence of current situation of labour market and job opportunities for migrant workers in Rayong.

III.Objective

Plan International Thailand is looking for a consultant or a team of consultants who will be able to conduct a study on labor market and job opportunities for migrant workers in Rayong province. The information and result of the study will be used for developing vocational and entrepreneurial training curriculum for young migrant workers in Rayong province.

Tasks

The consultant will be working with Plan Thailand’s SEAS of Change project manager and coordinator.  The consultant will be responsible and accountable to the following tasks: 

Task 1: Attending the training on Plan International’s Market Scan module provided by employment specialist at Plan Asia Regional Office;

Task 2:  Desk study on labour market and job and entrepreneurial opportunities for migrant workers in Rayong province,

Task 3: Collecting information on the demand and supply of migrant workers in Rayong province, and identify jobs and entrepreneurial opportunities for migrant workers in Rayong based on collected information and market scan activities,

Task 4: Submit drafted report with executive summary on the labour market and job and entrepreneurial opportunities for migrant workers in Rayong to SEAS Project at Plan International Thailand for review, and

Task 5:  Revise and submit final report with executive summary (two hard copies and one soft copy) to Plan International, Thailand Country Office.

Deliverables

VI.       Schedule

The duration of consultancy is 20 weeks, from June 2016 to November 2016. 

VI.       Consultant’s qualification

A consultant or a team of consultants will be recruited.

The minimum qualifications and experience required are:

Proven research background with a degree in labour economics, economics, business administration or related fields in social sciences.

Broader understanding and knowledge on livelihoods situation of migrant population, particularly Cambodian migrants, in Thailand.

Proficient English writing and documentation skills.

Excellent interpersonal communication skills and able to demonstrate respect for people with diverse ethnicities, different socio-economic backgrounds and beliefs.

VIII.     How to apply?

Develop a proposal for the consultancy based on the Terms of Reference, including proposed budget and work plan.

Submit a Curriculum Vitae of each team member with contact details

Submit at least one [1] sample of previous work (unpublished or published document)

Please take note that only short listed candidates will be notified.

   The applications are opened to citizens who are able to communicate in Thai or Cambodia only.      

   Please submit your CV and  email to : thailand.hr@plan-international.org by Sunday 15th May 2016

    Office location: Plan International Thailand 14th  Floor, 253  Sukhumvit 21 Road (Asoke),Klongtoey Nua,  

    Wattana, Bangkok 10110.  (Tel.  02 259 8284 – 7 Ext. 209 )

“Plan International is committed to child protection, gender equality and does not tolerate child abuse.”