Senior Specialist in International Labour Standards and Labour Law

Introduction

The position is located in the ILO Decent Work Technical Support Team for the Arab States (DWT-Beirut) which is part of the Regional Office for the Arab States (ROAS).  DWT-Beirut covers the following countries and territories: Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Occupied Palestinian Territory, Oman Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syrian Arab Republic, United Arab Emirates and Yemen.  DWT-Beirut provides high quality, timely and integrated technical support in the design and implementation of Decent Work Country Programmes (DWCPs) and other ILO country support activities within the framework of outcome-based work plans.  

The Senior Specialist will provide technical advisory services to ILO constituents in the field of international labour standards and labour law. The incumbent will work in close collaboration with DWT-Beirut technical specialists and other ROAS staff, the International Labour Standards Department (NORMES) and the Governance and Tripartism Department (GOVERNANCE) at ILO headquarters, local counterparts and UN bodies in the region on issues pertaining to labour legislation and the ratification and application of Conventions, including ensuring integration of standard-related issues into ILO development cooperation activities. The Senior Specialist will also work directly with colleagues who are responsible for employers’ and workers’ activities on the legal and practical aspects of social dialogue. 

The position reports to the Director of  DWT-Beirut and will receive technical guidance and advice from the Director ofNORMES. Technical guidance will also be provided by the Head of the Labour Law and Reform Unit in GOVERNANCE in relation to work carried out on questions related to labour law.

Specific Duties

1.Advise governments in all matters relating to meeting their obligations under the 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; reporting on requirements and implementation issues taking into account the comments of the ILO supervisory bodies; providing advice concerning the procedures for the ratification of international labour Conventions 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 Tripartite Consultation (International Labour Standards) Convention, 1976 (No.144).
2.Contribute to formulation and implementation of programmes and policies adopted by the ILO, including with respect to the agenda of the International Labour Conference in relation to the setting and supervision of international labour standards.
3.Conduct research and analytical work in the field of international labour standards and labour law. Analyze draft labour legislation submitted by governmentsto the ILO for comments. Provide advice and assistance to employers' and workers' organizations on existing and proposed labour legislation. Provide substantive support and advice to labour law reform processes and assist governments and tripartite 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 regulation.
4.Conduct research on legal frameworks, institutions and practices that may be useful for sound labour market governance and the promotion of mature social dialogue and negotiations.
5.Establish and maintain close relations with employers' and workers' organizations, informing and advising them in matters relating to ILO standards and procedures. Provide advice to promote systems of collective bargaining and labour dispute settlement and on matters arising under the special complaints procedures in cases of alleged violations of trade union rights.
6.Provide technical support on standard-related matters to tripartite committees established by the Governing Body or commissions of inquiry to examine alleged infringements of ratified Conventions.
7.Participate as an expert/adviser in the various committees or other official meetings dealing with legal issues or international labour standards, including preparing background materials and documents and drafting records of meetings and reports. Provide regular reports concerning work carried out in the countries covered by Regional Office as inputs for the work of the Committee of Experts on the Applications of Conventions and Recommendations.
8.Ensure the integration of a standards-dimension in development cooperation projects and programmes carried out at the regional and country levels, including the DWCPs adopted or revised by individual countries.
9.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. Coordinate supervisory work on a group of Conventions. This includes revising and supervising the work of professional officials, particularly on the examination of reports by governments on the application of standards and/or complaints of violations of freedom of association, and preparation of draft comments for high-level committees and/or groups of experts. 
2. Coordinate substantive research on policy questions or on questions of an analytic and international comparative nature on a wide range of issues for publications or for consideration by the Governing Body or International Labour Conference.
3. Draft and revise studies and publications in areas of expertise; participates as an expert in technical meetings and seminars in the ILO and other organisations; draft informal interpretations of Conventions; advise and collaborate with technical branches.
4. Collaborate with the supervisor in consideration of policy matters and the organization and execution of the work unit’s programme in general.
5. Organize and coordinate the technical and administrative support to special tripartite committees established by the Governing Body or commissions of inquiry to examine alleged infringements of ratified Conventions.
6. Represent the work unit as a technical expert on international labour standards, international labour law or labour relations on missions and at external meetings.  Undertake high-level policy missions. Supervise the preparation of meetings and the finalisation of documents and reports of such meetings.  Direct seminars and study courses. 
7. Plan and organize technical advisory and promotional activities.
8. Serve as representative of the Director-General or an expert in conference committees or other official meetings.

Required qualifications

Education

Advanced degree in law.

Experience

Minimum of ten years’ national plus three years of international experience or at least ten years international experience.

Languages

Excellent command of English or French.  Knowledge of Arabic would be an advantage.

Competencies

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

Technical
Ability to: coordinate and lead research activities of a work unit; ability to formulate opinions on legal questions in areas where practices or precedents do not exist or are of a conflicting nature; ability to provide authoritative advice to colleagues and constituents and lead meetings; tact and discretion.

Behavioural
Ability to work in a multicultural environment and to demonstrate gender-sensitive and non-discriminatory behaviour and attitudes.