International Labour Standards and Labour Law Specialist

Introduction

The position is located in the ILO Decent Work Technical Support Team (DWT) for Eastern and Southern Africa and Country Office for South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia and Eswatini in Pretoria (DWT/CO-Pretoria). The DWT/CO-Pretoria provides high-quality, timely and integrated technical support to Country Offices under its geographical competence in the design, implementation and monitoring of Decent Work Country Programmes (DWCP’s) and United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Frameworks.

The position will provide expertise and technical advisory services to ILO constituents in the field of international labour standards and labour law, and support Member States in establishing rights-based outcomes, strategies and programmes for the countries and the regional bodies covered. The incumbent’s activities will encompass legal and policy advice, programme development, technical support/backstopping, capacity building (including with ITC Turin) and promotion of international labour standards and tripartism.

The Specialist will work under the direct supervision of the Director of DWT/CO-Pretoria. S/he will receive technical guidance and support from the International Labour Standards Department (NORMES). The Labour Law and Reform Unit within the Governance and Tripartism Department (GOVERNANCE) will also provide technical guidance and support.

S/he will work in close cooperation with the other specialists in the DWT/CO team, and provide technical guidance and advice to the Chief Technical Advisers of development cooperation projects in countries covered by the DWT/CO Pretoria. In particular, the Specialist will work closely with colleagues who are responsible for employers’ and workers’ activities, on the legal and practical aspects of social dialogue, and engagement of social partner organizations on matters relating to the setting, promotion, ratification and application of international labour standards.

Specific Duties

1. Advise governments in all matters relating to the carrying out of their obligations under ratified Conventions or under the ILO Constitution in respect of international labour standards. This includes: assisting governments and the social partners with reporting obligations and procedures with respect to ratified Conventions as well as with unratified Conventions and Recommendations; providing technical advice and assistance on procedures relating to international labour Conventions and Recommendations; providing technical advice and assistance on issues of effective application of standards taking into account the comments of the ILO supervisory bodies; providing advice concerning the procedures for the ratification of international labour standards with particular attention to following up on recommendations of the Standards Review Mechanism as an institutional priority; and on the various complaint procedures under the ILO Constitution; and promoting and supporting social dialogue in matters relating to standards, in particular the establishment of procedures for tripartite consultations on standards-related issues in accordance with the Tripartite Consultation (International Labour Standards) Convention, 1976 (No.144).

 2. Conduct research on regulatory frameworks, and analytical work in the field of international labour standards and labour law. Analyse draft labour legislation submitted by governments to the ILO for comments. Provide substantive support and advice to labour law reform processes. Assist governments and social dialogue bodies in taking such processes forward, ensuring the alignment of draft legislation with relevant international labour standards and best comparative practices for effective labour market governance.

3. Contribute to the development of Decent Work Country Programmes and labour law/policy formulation. Provide advice to ILO constituents and to the UN Development System regarding the mainstreaming of international labour standards in national development frameworks. Provide advice and assistance to United Nations Country Teams and Resident Coordinators on matters of common interest to UN human rights mechanisms and the international labour standards system. Design, implement and evaluate development cooperation projects to support the application of international labour standards.

4. Advise ILO constituents on the application of labour law and collective agreements, as well as on labour dispute settlement as effective means of attaining the Organization’s decent work and social justice goals. Draw on ILO standards and appropriate comparative practices at the international level in giving this advice.

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5. Establish and maintain networks of stakeholders active in the area of international labour standards and human rights at work, including academia, parliamentarians, labour dispute settlement bodies and multilateral development banks.

6. Establish and maintain close relations with employers' and workers' organizations in consultation with the relevant DWT Specialists, informing and advising them on matters related to international labour standards, national labour law reform and labour relations.

7. Participate as an adviser in committees and other official meetings dealing with international labour standards, including preparing background material and documents, drafting records of meetings and reports.

8. Perform other relevant duties as assigned.

These specific duties are aligned with the relevant ILO generic job description, which includes the following generic duties:

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 specialized 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 pre-conference work, including drafting committees. Represent the Office at meetings of other international organizations.
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

Required qualifications

Education

Advanced university degree in law.

Experience

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. 

Languages

An excellent command of English is required. A working knowledge of French would be an advantage.

Competencies

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

Technical

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.

Behavioural
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.