Enterprise Advisor – NOA (DC)

Background

About Better Work

Better Work is a unique partnership programme between the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the International Finance Corporation (IFC). Launched in 2007, it aims to improve labour standards and competitiveness in global supply chains. Better Work involves the development of both global tools and country-level projects. The focus is on developing scalable and sustainable solutions which build cooperation between government, employer and worker organizations, and international buyers.

The Power of Convening

As a partnership between the UN’s International Labour Organization and the World Bank Group’s International Finance Corporation, we know how to bring diverse groups together to create positive action that improves working conditions while stimulating productivity and competitiveness.

A Proven Approach

We create lasting, measurable change by empowering factories to improve the working conditions in their facilities. Our assessments are the global gold standard for rigour and integrity. Our training programs and advisory services change attitudes as well as behaviours.

National Action/ Global Influence
Through our comprehensive, university-led research, and by sharing best practices from our on-the-ground experience, we are able to shape the agenda well beyond the countries in which we work, influencing governments, brands and policy makers to make improving working conditions a top priority

Purpose

Our work and our research have demonstrated – to employers, unions, global brands and governments – that improving working conditions and defending the rights of workers benefits all of us. We’ve improved the lives of nearly 30 million workers, and millions more family members, while enhancing the profitability of their employers. There is no trade-off between better work and better business.

Established in 2014, Better Work Bangladesh has been an essential facilitator of growth and expansion of the Ready-Made Garment industry ─ one of the economy’s largest export-oriented drivers. In Bangladesh, Better Work is focused on promoting decent work, empowering women and inclusive economic growth. In its first phase (2014 – 2017), the programme worked with the Government of Bangladesh to better align the country’s labour laws with international labour standards and best practices. This was a period marked by labour law amendments and improvements in union registration criteria adhering to the ILO’s fundamental constitutions on Freedom of Association and Collective Bargaining. In Phase II (2018 – 2022), the programme expanded its operations from Dhaka to the port city of Chittagong. To respond to evolving industry needs, the programme adopted an agile service model and initiated several special initiatives, such as the Gender Equality and Returns (GEAR) programme, maternity health and protection initiatives and the Factory Ambassador Programme (FAP).

The ready-made garment (RMG) sector in Bangladesh has experienced rapid growth over the past 20 years; it is now the country’s largest export earner and employs over 4 million workers – of which 60% are women – in approximately 4,000 active factories. It is currently the 2nd largest exporter of RMG in the world.
It is generally considered though those problems related to a lack of skilled workers, infrastructure, social compliance, and labour-management relations hamper growth. There exist significant issues in many factories around occupational safety and health (OHS), working conditions, wage payments, freedom of association, and the lack of effective human resource management. In addition, weaknesses in national labour administration, industrial relations and social dialogue systems exacerbate and prolong non-compliance with national laws and regulations.

To address these challenges, BWB aims at building the necessary capacity so that stakeholders can identify, prevent, and address relevant problems. In practical terms this means that BWB operates on two levels: (1) Factory-level: build in-factory capacity to improve working conditions and establish management systems and (2) institutional level: assist in building constituent capacity to achieve structural, sustainable change in labour administration, industrial relations and social dialogue systems.

For more information about Better Work please see www.betterwork.org

Function

To provide professional-level enterprise advisory services including the conduct of independent enterprise assessments against labour standards and the provision of enterprise-level consultancy services to support remediation and enterprise improvement. Enterprise assessments and progress reports will be accessed by enterprises, international buyers and government ministries and will contribute to public reporting. The work of enterprise advisers has a direct impact on enterprise performance and access to markets. The position will be based in Dhaka.

Supervision

Under the overall guidance of the Director, ILO Country Office for Bangladesh, and the general supervision of the Better Work Bangladesh Programme Manager, the Enterprise Adviser will work under the direct supervision of a National Team Leader. Judgement, initiative, and creativity are required in translating project tools and approaches at the enterprise level. The work product is controlled by the supervisor for technical soundness and appropriateness. 
Responsibilities.

Description of Duties

• Independently conduct enterprise assessment of labour standards and management systems at the enterprise level.
• Independently produce high-standard reports in English on (i) assessment findings, (ii) recommendations for improvement, (iii) enterprise improvement plans and (iv) progress reports on implementation.
• Review the reports of other advisors as part of the peer review Better Work quality assurance system.
• Provide high-quality enterprise-level consultancy services designed to improve enterprise performance including coaching, facilitating management and union improvement committees, providing technical advice and conducting classroom-based training.
• Select and adapt and contextualize Better Work products for use at the individual enterprise level based on needs.
• Provide technical advice and input into the development of Better Work research, products, and strategies.
• Actively contribute to the project’s monitoring and evaluation strategy, research agenda and knowledge management strategy.
• Contribute to the financial sustainability strategy of the project including encouraging the participation of enterprises in project activities, a strong outcome focus, and effective time management of consultancy services.
• Work closely with national constituents to support them implementing services in the industry.
• Other duties as required by the supervisor.

Number of Positions

Two (02)

Required qualifications

Education

University degree in in, international development, law, occupational health and safety, industrial engineering, industrial relations, gender studies, human resource management, adult education or other relevant fields, or equivalent in experience.
 

Experience

At least two years of professional experience in social dialogue, capacity building in the private sector in developing countries, corporate social responsibility (particularly in the field of labour standards compliance and remediation), occupational health and safety, behavioral change, industrial engineering, industrial relations or other relevant fields.

Languages

Excellent command of written and spoken both in English and Bengali. 

Competencies

• Good communication skills, both oral and written.
• Good analytical skills.
• Good knowledge of Bangladeshi labour-related laws and regulations.
• Understanding of industry relations and social dialogue to contribute towards core services and stakeholder engagement.
• Good group facilitation, interpersonal, behavioral change and conflict resolution skills and capacity to deliver classroom training Experience in industrial relations and building of social dialogue between management and worker representatives at the workplace an advantage.
• Understanding of enterprise-level human resource, production, and quality systems.
• Good knowledge of manufacturing management, garment product development process and efficiency.
• Good understanding of corporate social responsibility and labour compliance issues in global supply chains.
• Good understanding of industrial safety and remediation issues in Bangladesh’s garment industry and general occupational health and safety issues an advantage.
• Ability to monitor the effectiveness of capacity-building initiatives undertaken by partner organizations/ consultants.
• Good understanding of principles of gender equality and principles of equal opportunity and how these can be promoted as part of the responsibilities of the post.
• Ability to work in a multicultural environment and to demonstrate gender-sensitive and non-discriminatory behavior and attitudes.
• Self-motivated and able to work independently in outcomes-based work culture as well as contributing to the work of a team.
• Ability to provide on-time support to the enterprise and should have the ability to contribute to the roadmap preparation.
• Capacity to sensitively liaise and network with a range of stakeholders including staff, donors, international buyers, government officials, management, unions, and NGOs.