SCOPE OF WORK

SENIOR EXPERT FOR COMPILATION OF COUNTRY CASE STUDIES AND RECOMMENDATIONS ON STRENGTHENING LABOR INSPECTION IN THE FISHING SECTOR 

Position

Senior Expert for Compilation of Country Case Studies and Recommendations on Strengthening Labor Inspection in the Fishing Sector

Period of Performance On/About (From – To)

16 January 2025

15 January 2026

Maximum Level of Effort

STTA (45 days)

Base of Operations

Remote from Home with travel to ASEAN countries as required

Project Background:

Collectively, the 10 countries that comprise the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) contribute more than 20 percent of global fish production. As the fishing industry has tried to meet growing global demand, oversight has not kept pace. As consumer demand has grown, competitive pressures and declining catch rates, coupled with insufficient regulation and minimal oversight, have created incentives for illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing, and allowed exploitative and abusive treatment of workers to proliferate, including treatment that rises to the level of forced labor and trafficking in persons. The Addressing Labor Exploitation in Fishing in ASEAN (ALFA) project aims to build the capacity to coordinate and collaborate across ASEAN to mitigate forced labor and promote responsible labor practices in the fishing industry.

The fishing sector is vital to the economic development of Southeast Asia, contributing nearly 22 percent of the world’s fishery products, valued at over USD 55 million in 2019. Despite its economic significance, the sector faces severe challenges, including labor exploitation, child labor, and human trafficking, often linked to illegal fishing activities. These issues highlight the need for robust labor inspection systems.

To address these challenges, the 27th ASEAN Labour Ministers Meeting (ALMM) recognized the necessity of enhancing labor inspection procedures. The project aims to develop standardized and effective labor inspection guidelines to address labor exploitation, eliminate forced labor and child labor, and strengthen occupational safety and health (OSH) measures across ASEAN.

Purpose:

The consultant will compile country case studies and develop recommendations for strengthening labor inspection procedures in the fishing, aquaculture and allied sector. This project will span approximately 12 (twelve) months, involving close collaboration with the ALFA project team and the ASEAN Secretariat. The consultant’s expertise will be crucial in gathering and analyzing data, and engaging with stakeholders to produce actionable insights and policy recommendations. The recommendations will build upon existing guidelines and handbooks from the ILO and ITF, distinguishing between inspections conducted at port, at sea, and in land-based seafood processing. Additionally, the consultant will explore the extent of labor inspections in the fishing sector across various countries in the region.

SCOPE OF STUDY:

The scope of this study encompasses all ASEAN Member States to ensure the development of comprehensive and standardized labor inspection guidelines that are applicable region wide. This holistic approach is essential for capturing diverse practices, challenges, and opportunities within the fishing sector across the region. The study will involve:

Data Collection and Analysis: Conducting a thorough review and analysis of labor inspection practices in each ASEAN Member State. Gathering data on the prevalence and nature of labor exploitation, forced labor, and child labor within the fishing sector in each country. Evaluating existing occupational safety and health (OSH) standards and their implementation across member states. Country Case Studies: Developing detailed case studies for each ASEAN Member State to highlight specific challenges and best practices in labor inspection. Integrating findings from these case studies into the regional guidelines to ensure they are tailored to address the unique conditions of each country while maintaining a standardized approach. Stakeholder Engagement: Engaging with key stakeholders, including government officials, international organizations, civil society groups, and industry representatives, in each member state to gather diverse perspectives and insights. Organizing workshops, focus group discussions, and interviews to validate data and ensure the guidelines reflect the collective input of all relevant parties. Comparative Analysis: Conducting a comparative analysis of labor inspection frameworks and outcomes across ASEAN Member States to identify common trends, gaps, and opportunities for harmonization. Ensuring alignment with the Regional Guidelines on the Protection of Migrant Fishers to prevent overlap and duplication. Integration and Standardization: Synthesizing data from all member states to develop a set of standardized and effective labor inspection guidelines that address labor exploitation, forced labor, and child labor, while enhancing OSH standards. Ensuring the guidelines are actionable, relevant, and tailored to the specific needs of the ASEAN region. Dissemination and Implementation: Assisting in the dissemination of the finalized guidelines through regional workshops, seminars, and other appropriate channels. Providing support for the adoption and implementation of the guidelines across all ASEAN Member States, ensuring broad and effective application.

OBJECTIVES AND DUTIES:

·        Collaborate intensively with the Project Director and the ASEAN Secretariat to develop a robust research design for the compilation of country case studies, aligning it with the study's objectives of evaluating and improving labor inspection methods in the fishing sector. At least one case study should be of at sea inspections.

·        Provide specialized technical insights focusing on areas such as labor exploitation, child labor, forced labor, and OSH standards.

·        Develop the research proposal, workplan and data gathering tools in consultation with DOLE, ASEC and US-DOL through ALFA Project.

·        Conduct a comprehensive analysis of primary and secondary data, including academic literature, policy documents, and interviews with key stakeholders. This analysis should identify gaps, challenges, and opportunities in current labor inspection practices.

·        Coordinate with members of ALICOM as focal points of the country case studies. These case studies should highlight practical and innovative approaches to labor inspection, addressing labor exploitation, child labor,  occupational safety and health, and social protection.

·   Develop recommendations based on the findings from the country case studies. These recommendations should focus on enhancing labor inspection procedures in preventing and reporting forced labor, labor exploitation, and child labor, while promoting occupational safety and health and social protection in the fishing, aquaculture and allied sectors.

·       Facilitate workshops, conferences or meetings  with ASEAN member states, international organizations, civil society, and industry and union representatives to gather insights and validate the study’s findings.

·      Consult the SLOM-WG to refine findings and recommendations, ensuring they are actionable, relevant, and aligned with ongoing ASEAN initiatives to improve labor conditions in the fishing sector.

LEVEL OF EFFORT/TIMELINE

The level of effort for this assignment is up to 45 days of LOE over a period of 12 (twelve) months.

REPORTING

The Senior Expert will report to the Project Director of ALFA for further conveyance to DOLE Philippines and ASEAN Secretariat’s Labour and Civil Service Division.

 

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

 

·        Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent degree), preferably in a relevant area such as international trade, labor studies, public policy, sociology, or economics.

·        A minimum of 10 years of prior experience in designing and conducting research projects related to labor rights, labor inspection, in fishing sector, or occupational safety and health, or social protection in fishing sector with a focus on regional initiatives.

·        Strong familiarity with ASEAN, its labor policies, and the unique challenges facing labor protection in the region is highly desirable.

·        In-depth understanding of Southeast Asia and ASEAN is a strong asset.

·        A commitment to a consultative and collaborative approach in working with diverse stakeholders, including governments, international organizations, civil society, and the private sector.

·        Exceptional written and verbal communication skills in English; proficiency in additional ASEAN languages is an advantage.

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