Workers' Safety and Health in Global Supply Chains

Governance and Tripartism Department, Labour administration, Labour Inspection and Occupational Safety and Health Branch.

The LABADMIN/OSH Branch within the GOVERNANCE Department aims to create worldwide awareness of the human and economic cost of work-related fatalities, injuries and diseases and to place the health and safety of all workers high on the international agenda. Within the LABADMIN/OSH Branch and in line with the Occupational Safety and Health – Safety and Health for All Flagship Programme, the Vision Zero Fund (VZF) is an initiative to promote occupational safety and health (OSH) and reduce the number of severe work-related accidents, injuries and diseases in workplaces linked to global supply chains (GSCs). The VZF is situated within the LABADMIN/OSH Branch of the GOVERNANCE Department of the ILO, and funds activities in a number of countries, including Myanmar, Lao, Ethiopia, Mexico, and Colombia focusing on the garment/ textile and agro-food sectors.

The VZF activities directly links to the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) on decent work and economic growth (no. 8) and its findings will further contribute to SDGs on good health and well-being and on responsible consumption and production (no. 3 and 12).

The continuing internationalization of production systems has brought about rapidly changing production models and employment patterns involving the expansion of worldwide coordinated cross-border outsourcing and job creation. According to ILO estimates, approximately 60 to 80 per cent of global trade involves GSCs. While the contribution of these trade mechanisms to global economic growth and job opportunities is evident, their impact on the working conditions and safety and health of workers involved in GSCs in developing countries raises concern. Although there is great potential to harness the growing power of GSCs towards better occupational safety and health of their workers, examples of successful initiatives to do so remain limited.

The successful candidate will be exposed to ongoing international discussions on the governance of global chains of production. He / she will gain experience and knowledge on global supply chains through working with specialists in occupational safety and health, labour inspection and employment injury insurance.

The successful candidate will work under the direct supervision of the Program Manager of the VZF, and in close collaboration with the VZF Technical Officers and under the overall responsibility of the Chief of LABADMIN/OSH. His/her main tasks will consist of:

1. Background research / data collection and analysis;
2. Map opportunities for engagement with the private sector, including multinational corporations, private compliance initiatives, and foundations;
3. Development of communication material and support to publication processes and support the overall communication and knowledge dissemination strategy of the VZF through the various appropriate communication channels;
4. Support the preparation of activities related to result validation events with the various stakeholders of the VZF (government, workers, employers, association of producers, global buyers, certification networks, etc.) and support the development of knowledge products and the organization of knowledge and result dissemination events;
5. Support the development of project proposals;
6. Any other task assigned by the supervisor.

The candidate should be enrolled in the final year of a graduate degree programme in economics, business, social sciences, or law, or should have completed such a programme no longer than 1 year before applying. Specialization in labour studies / occupational safety and health or global supply chain management is an advantage

Relevant work and / or research experience in the areas of global supply chains, occupational safety and health, or corporate social responsibility; experience with research (Master’s thesis, research assistant position) and knowledge of the private sector (in particular garment/textile and agriculture sectors);

Excellent command (both oral and written) of English; knowledge of other ILO official languages (French, Spanish) is an advantage.

adaptable to an international, multicultural and multilingual environment, interested in action-oriented and applied research, good communication skills and ability to both work independently and as a member of a team.