International Labour Standards Specialist

The position is located in the ILO Country Office for South Pacific Island Countries in Suva (CO-Suva). The Specialist will provide technical advisory services to ILO constituents in the countries covered by CO-Suva ( Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu) in the field of international labour standards. He/she will prepare or review draft labour laws for the countries covered by CO-Suva in line with international labour standards and good comparative labour law and practices in full consultation with the concerned departments at ILO headquarters.

The incumbent will work under the direct supervision of the Director of CO-Suva. He/she will work in close collaboration with other technical specialists in the Decent Work Technical Support Team for East and South-East Asia and Pacific (DWT/CO-Bangkok), and will receive technical guidance and support from the International Labour Standards Department (NORMES) at headquarters. The Labour Law and Reform Unit within the Governance and Tripartism Department (GOVERNANCE) will also provide technical guidance and support.

1. Conduct research on legal frameworks, institutions and practices for sound labour market governance and the promotion of mature social dialogue and negotiations.
2. Undertake Decent Work Country Programmes and labour law/policy formulation and provide advice to ILO constituents on issues regarding the application of international labour standards, including through the promotion of development cooperation activities.
3. Ensure that governments accomplish on a timely basis their obligations in terms of presentation of periodic reports, in accordance with article 19 and 22 of the Constitution of the ILO, and follow up adequately the comments of different ILO supervisory bodies, notably the Committee of Experts on the Application of Conventions and Recommendations, the Conference Committee on the Application of Standards, and the Committee on Freedom of Association.
4. Provide regular reports on work carried out as inputs to the work of the Committee of Experts on the Applications of Conventions and Recommendations.
5. Collaborate with ILO specialists to prepare coordinated comments on draft laws based on international labour standards, in close coordination with headquarters.
6. Advise ILO constituents on the application of labour law and collective agreements as an effective means to attaining the Organization’s decent work and social justice goals, taking into account ILO standards and adequate practices at the international level.
7. Establish and maintain close relations with employers' and workers' organizations, informing and advising them on matters related to international labour standards, national labour law reform and labour relations.
8. Participate as an adviser in the various committees or other official meetings dealing with international labour standards, including preparing background material and documents, drafting records of meetings and reports.
9. Design, implement and evaluate development cooperation projects to support the application of international labour standards.
10. Perform other relevant duties as assigned.

These specific duties are aligned with the relevant ILO generic job description, which includes the following generic duties:
1.Examine reports by governments on ratified and unratified Conventions and Recommendations. Examine and analyse complaints. Prepare comparative analyses of the legislation and practice of the different member States. Draft comments for presentation to and discussion with high-level committees and/or groups of experts Provide advice to colleagues on labour
standards under the incumbent's responsibility.
2.Prepare legal opinions and interpretations on a variety of legal questions or in a specialised field.
3.Prepare notes, reports and documents concerning questions of international law or labour standards, including requests for interpretations on complex legal questions, for consideration by governments, the Governing Body, the International Labour Conference and the Director-General. Develop strategies for follow-up to decisions made by policy bodies.
4.Analyse draft labour legislation submitted by governments to the ILO for comments prior to adoption.
5.Undertake research and write studies on complex problems (i.e. judging compatibility between legislation and practice) relating to international labour standards, labour law and labour relations, as well as prepare general surveys, manuals and articles. Supervise the preparation of statements on questions of public international law relevant to the work of the ILO. Advise on the position to be taken by the Organization on these issues.
6.Review and approve instruments of ratification.
7.Provide technical support to special tripartite committees established by the Governing Body or commissions of inquiry to examine alleged infringements of ratified Conventions.
8.Represent the work unit at meetings, including Conference committees and industrial committees, to provide advice on legal questions or questions concerning international labour standards or labour relations. Act as adviser to Conference committees and assist in the drafting of international legal instruments and participate in preconference work, including drafting committees.
9.Develop, plan and implement technical advisory and promotional activities, including tripartite seminars, workshops, lectures and discussion groups. Represent the Office on missions which may be of a sensitive or controversial nature and before judicial bodies. Represent the work unit on internal committees or at inter-agency meetings.
10.Participate in the secretariat of various committees dealing with legal issues or labour standards, including preparation of background material and documents, drafting records of meetings, drafting reports, etc.

Advanced university degree in law.

Minimum of eight years' practical relevant experience at the national level or at least six years at the international level. Project management experience would be an advantage.

Excellent command of English. 

In addition to the ILO core competencies, this position requires:

Technical competencies:

Ability to perform tasks in accordance with instructions and guidelines; make use of analytical, and technical qualitative and quantitative tools; design research studies and conduct comparative analyses involving the application of principles of law to the analysis of administrative, substantive and procedural problems of substantial intricacy; advise and persuade colleagues and constituents on legal questions. Capacity to participate effectively in technical missions and within a team; ability to guide and coordinate external collaborators´ work, general-service staff or young professionals; ability to prepare technically accurate reports and publications, with conclusions that may lead to an action plan and the elaboration of programmes; ability to formulate, evaluate and monitor development cooperation activities and projects. Good knowledge of information technology.

Behavioural competencies:

Good written and spoken communication and presentation skills. Strong diplomatic skills, tact and discretion. High standard of integrity, professionalism, personal discipline and impartiality. Good interpersonal skills. Ability to work in a multicultural environment and to demonstrate gender-sensitive and non-discriminatory behaviour and attitudes.