Wage Specialist

The position is located in the Decent Work Technical Support Team for East, South East Asia and the Pacific and ILO Country Office for Thailand, Cambodia and Lao PDR (DWT/CO-Bangkok). DWT/CO-Bangkok provides support to the work of ILO Country Offices in assisting governments, employers' and workers' organizations in East and South-East Asia and the Pacific in their efforts to promote decent work. This support includes technical and policy advice, information and analyses covering a wide range of specific subjects within the core areas of the ILO’s mandate. The Wage Specialist will be responsible for providing technical advisory services in the field of wage policy and supporting relevant development cooperation projects.

The position will report to the Director of DWT/CO-Bangkok and will receive technical guidance and advice from the Inclusive Labour Markets, Labour Relations and Working Conditions Branch (INWORK) within the Conditions of Work and Equality Department (WORKQUALITY) at ILO headquarters.

1. Provide technical assistance to governments, employers’ and workers’ organizations and others bodies concerned, on the concepts, design and implementation of sound evidence-based minimum wage policies, wage determination practices at enterprise and industry level, pay determination systems for public sector workers, policies and measures to promote equal pay for work of equal value and wage bargaining, as part of overall coherent wage policies.

2. Coordinate with other ILO specialists, such as with the employment, social dialogue, industrial relations, gender, international labour standards, employers’ activities and workers' activities specialists in the DWT/CO-Bangkok, to ensure that the institutional, employment and gender dimensions of wage policy-setting are integrated.

3. Provide technical assistance, in close consultation with the ILO Department of Statistics, INWORK and other DWT specialists, to the ministries of labour and national statistical offices in the design and application of surveys aimed at collecting relevant, reliable and accurate data on wages and productivity for better-informed decision-making processes.

4. Conduct qualitative and quantitative research and ensure information sharing on comparative analysis of country experiences, including policy briefs and fact sheets, covering such topics as minimum wage setting, public sector pay, wage determination and equal pay for work of equal value with a view to assisting constituents in identifying good country practices
and developing coherent strategies for developing, implementing and evaluating wage policies.

5. Play a key role in promoting the integration of gender equality concerns into wage policies, and in ensuring policy coherence between wages and other conditions of work, such as working time for example. Follow up and implement these concerns in Decent Work Country programmes (DWCPs) and outcome-based workplans.

6. Promote international labour standards related to wages, including those related to wage determination through collective bargaining, and support the incorporation of wage policies and wage issues into national development frameworks, employment policies, DWCPs, United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Frameworks and related initiatives.

7. Develop and seek funding for development cooperation projects in particular in the area of wages and pay equity, in close consultation with ILO constituents, and concerned programmes in the field and at headquarters, such as INWORK.

8. Represent the ILO on wages and working conditions in high-level forums, conferences and taskforces at national and subregional levels that may also involve other international organizations including international financial institutions.

9. Contribute through written technical inputs and regional databases to the preparation of the ILO's flagship Global Wage Report and its launch and dissemination in the subregion, ensuring that sub-regional trends and policy developments and implications are duly reflected in the report and other by-products.

10. In consultation with INWORK and other DWT specialists, design, and, where appropriate, in cooperation with ITC-Turin, organize and deliver training courses or modules on wages and wage policies targeting concerned audiences.

11. 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. Design and promote a wide range of special subject-matter-related programmes, This involves: re-analysis of complex or conflicting data, statistics and information or policy guidelines, in a manner requiring the advanced application of principles of a recognised technical specialisation. 
2. Develop and review an institutional framework, in which social partners can best improve, implement and evaluate efficient and equitable ILO action programmes.
3. Provide policy advice to ILO’s constituents on institutional strengthening, the application of ILO standards and the promotion of development cooperation activities.
4. Formulate and submit project proposals and seek funding.
5. Evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of the project activities.
6. Undertake technical advisory missions independently or in collaboration with other specialists.
7. Conduct seminars, workshops and technical meetings and training courses.
8. Prepare draft recommendations and guidelines for discussion and adoption as ILO Recommendations or Conventions on related technical fields.
9. Write manuals and/or training guides on related topics.
10. Disseminate information on programmes through publications and, press releases, as well as ensuring representation at donors’ meetings, international, regional and national fora and advocacy campaigns.
11. Monitor and coordinate research carried out by junior technical officers and external collaborators.
12. Provide technical inputs to office documents (sectoral meetings, technical committees, regional meetings and conference reports).
13. Participate in tripartite reviews on development cooperation activities and international meetings and conferences.

Advanced university degree in economics or other discipline related to labour market studies.

At least eight years' experience in wages and labour market policies or at least five years at the international level. Demonstrated experience in providing policy advice and support to governments and/or employers' and workers' organizations on wages issues. Experience in both qualitative and quantitative research and analysis would be an advantage. Relevant professional experience in Asia would be an advantage.

Excellent command of English. Knowledge of another official language (French, Spanish) of the Organization would be an advantage.

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

Technical competencies

Excellent knowledge on wages policies and issues, and conversant with the written works on wages, including minimum wages and equal pay for work of equal value. A good understanding of statistical methods and ability to manage databases. Understanding of the gender dimensions of wage policies, and of the links between wages, working conditions, employment and the particular situation of disadvantaged or vulnerable groups. Good knowledge of international labour standards related to wages. Strong analytical skills and proven ability to successfully translate research findings into sound policy guidance and advice; Ability to formulate new concepts, methodologies and policies and present them at high-level meetings; Ability to produce reports (e.g. reports for regional conferences and the International Labour Conference, technical publications, training manuals and draft resolutions) and evaluate and monitor development cooperation projects.

Behavioural competencies

Strong diplomatic skills, and ability to build and nurture relationships. Good inter-personal skills and ability to cooperate with other members of the team and other programmes and field offices. Ability to work in a multicultural environment and to demonstrate gender-sensitive and non-discriminatory behaviour and attitudes.