Wages and Social Dialogue Specialist

Introduction

The position is located in the ILO Decent Work Technical Support Team and Country Office for North Africa (DWT/CO-Cairo) based in Cairo. DWTs provide high quality, timely and integrated technical support to country offices in the design and implementation of Decent Work Country Programmes (DWCPs) in response to their requests within the framework of outcome-based work plans. This support includes technical and policy advice, information and analyses. The position is responsible for providing advisory services on wage policy throughout the entire African region, with a priority to be given to the countries covered by the DWT/CO-Cairo. The incumbent will also provide support on social dialogue and tripartism, as well as on collective bargaining on wages and other conditions of work.

The position reports to the Director of DWT/CO-Cairo, and works in close coordination with the Directors of the other ILO country offices in the sub-region. The incumbent will receive overall technical oversight and advice from the Inclusive Labour Markets, Labour Relations and Working Conditions Branch (INWORK) the Conditions of work and Equality Department (WORKQUALITY) at headquarters. The Social Dialogue and Tripartism Unit (DIALOGUE) in the Governance and Tripartism Department (GOVERNANCE) will also provide technical guidance and advice.

Specific Duties

1. Provide support to the Director DWT/CO with establishing strategic work plans in the areas of wage policies, taking into consideration the needs and priorities of the tripartite constituents at the national and sub-regional levels.
2. Provide technical advice and training to governments, workers and employers and others bodies concerned, on the concepts, design and implementation of adequate wage policies. This includes notably statutory minimum wages, wages setting through collective bargaining, wage determination practices at enterprise level, pay determination systems for public sector workers. According to the demands, this technical advice will be given in priority to the countries covered by the DWT/CO-Cairo and to a limited number of countries in other parts of the African Region. The incumbent will ensure the integration of gender equality concerns into wage policies, and policy coherence between wages and other conditions of work, such as working time.
3. Develop policy-oriented research and produce papers, reports and monographs, covering topics such as minimum wage setting or wage setting through collective bargaining  with a view to assisting constituents in identifying adequate wage policies and developing coherent strategies for developing, implementing and evaluating wage policies. Contribute through written technical inputs to the preparation of the ILO's flagship Global Wage Report and its launch and dissemination in the region, ensuring that regional trends and policy developments and implications are duly reflected in the report and other by-products.
4. Promote international labour standards related to: 
a)    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; 
b)    social dialogue and tripartism, including the fundamental Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention, 1948 (No. 87) and the Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention, 1949 (No. 98), as well as the governance Tripartite Consultation (International Labour Standards) Convention, 1976 (No. 144).
5. Develop and mobilize resources for development cooperation projects in particular in the area of wages and pay equity and in the field of social dialogue and tripartism, in close consultation with ILO constituents, and concerned programmes and units in the field and at headquarters, such as INWORK and DIALOGUE. 
6. 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.
7. Provide technical support and guidance on matters pertaining to social dialogue and tripartism, notably the establishment and strengthening of effective and inclusive social dialogue institutions, the strengthening of tripartite constituents’ capacity as well as the promotion of collective bargaining in conformity with the relevant ILO standards and good comparative practice. This includes the development of, or contribution to, policy and training tools on social dialogue and tripartism. 
8. Ensure inclusion and implementation of wages and social dialogue-related issues in DWCPs and outcome-based workplans.
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. 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.

Required qualifications

Education

Advanced university degree in Economics with expertise in labour economics, Public Administration, Industrial Relations, Law or in another discipline related to labour market studies. 

Experience

At least eight years' experience at the national level or five years at the international level in wage policies and/or labour/industrial relations. 

Languages

Excellent command of English or French and a working knowledge of the second language. A working knowledge of Arabic would be an advantage.

Competencies

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

Technical

Excellent knowledge on wages policies and issues, and conversant with the written works on wages, including minimum wages and wages set through collective bargaining. Knowledge of other forms of social dialogue than collective bargaining. 
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. Knowledge of ILO standards. Ability to:  synthesize research and reach empirically based conclusions on related subjects; provide seasoned advice on best practices, to address broader issues outside the field of specialization; formulate new concepts and methodologies; develop training materials, alternative courses of action, project proposals, policy, procedural matters and present them at high-level meetings; design and synthesize strategies for  programme development in member States; produce reports (e.g. reports for regional conferences and  ILC, technical publications, training manuals  and draft resolutions) and evaluate and monitor development cooperation activities and projects.
Ability to conduct discussions with governments, employers' and workers' organisations, non-governmental organizations, development banks and with other agencies as well as professionals in related fields. 
Behavioural
Ability to work in a multicultural environment and to demonstrate gender-sensitive and non-discriminatory behaviour and attitudes.