Background to the Project

In January 2024, Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) and Human Right Development Foundation (HRDF) started a 24-month Project entitled Strengthening CSO Capacity and Networks for Migrant Rights Protection Project funded by the European Union that aimed at promoting and protecting labour rights and promoting safe working environment for vulnerable migrant workers in and around Mae Sot District, Tak, Thailand, for decent work and economic growth. The project targets4,000 migrant workers in and around Mae Sot, Thailand.

Thailand has been attracting low-skilled migrants from neighbouring countries for decades. It hosts approximately 3.9 million documented and undocumented migrant workers from Cambodia, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Myanmar, and Viet Nam (IOM, Protecting Migrant worker in Indo-Pacific supply chain, 2022). Based on this estimate, migrant workers constitute over 10 percent of Thailand’s labour force of 38.7 million. Nationals from Myanmar make up the largest migrant worker population in Thailand, with recent estimates putting the figure at 2.3 million individuals (International Migration Report, 2019). Tak province, in specific, is a common destination for Myanmar migrants because of the road linkages to Myanmar, ease of access through porous border crossings and the high concentration of factories and the growing agriculture sector providing employment opportunities. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, risks posed to migrant workers in Thailand included vulnerability to excessive recruitment fee and migration-related costs, restrictions on freedom of movement, poor working conditions, irregular working days and working hours, and lack of access to legal and social protection, informal barriers, etc. The pandemic has further exacerbated these vulnerabilities (IOM, 2021)[1].

The major problems facing Burmese migrant workers include: (i) Weak law enforcement for labour rights protection. Though the Labour Protection Act and related measures are in place to protect the migrants’ labour rights, law enforcement remains at a low level. Furthermore, migrant workers themselves are not aware of their labour/human rights under the Labour Protection Act.  (ii) CSOs lack of capacity to engage in the dialogue process at the national level due to weak coordination, limited resources, low digital literacy, language barriers, living outside of the capitals and in remote areas, etc. (iii) Occupational safety and health is another issue affecting migrants, where injuries could be prevented through more effective implementation of the workplace safety standards set by the safety laws.

• It is envisaged that these identified problems will be tackled through the “Strengthening CSO Capacity and Networks for Migrant Rights Protection” project. The stated objective will be achieved by the outputs described below:
• Output.1.1: Increased awareness of duty bearers and target employers about migrant labour/human rights;
• Output.1.2: Strengthened capacities on labour laws and measures addressing access to legal protection of migrant workers from Mae Sot area against unfair labour practices.
• Output.2.1: Enhanced CSOs knowledge and skills for effective advocacy in migrant rights.
• Output.2.2: Enhanced opportunities for dialogue and collaboration among duty bearers, CSOs, and private sector for the improvement of the protection of labour rights for migrant workers.

Technical Support from the Consultant

This consultancy will contribute to Output 2.1: Enhanced CSOs knowledge and skills for effective advocacy in migrant rights.

Scope of Work of the Consultancy

The consultant(s) will cover the following tasks:

• Meet with MWG and ADRA staff to discuss the training contents;
• Prepare training materials on data collection, management and evidence-based reporting to provide credible ground for advocacy;
• Conduct a two day workshop with at least 20-30 participants;
• Develop pre-post tests for the workshop;
• Write a training report in Thai about future recommendations concerning fact-finding training.

Timeframe and duration of the consultancy

The training materials should be developed by the consultant before the training. The workshop is scheduled to take place in the 3^rd week of November 2024. The workshop will be delivered by the consultant during the two-day training session for MRPWG member organizations and the training report will be submitted to ADRA within two weeks after the workshop.  The total payable days for the consultancy is no more than 7 days.

Qualifications of the Consultant

• Knowledge on Thai labour and migration legislation as well as human rights;
• Awareness of social, political, and economic factors affecting migrant communities;
• Previous experience working with migrants is preferrable;
• Geographic and contextual understanding of Thai-Burma border and Mae Sot area;
• Experience in data collection and research;
• Experience in documenting findings systematically and ethically;
• Knowledge on legal processes for labour protections;
• Ability to work with, and deliver training to CSO/CBOs;
• Ability to design a training currucla encompassing interactive and practical activities engaging diverse participants;
• Previous experience in delivering training workshops;
• Fluent in Burmese, or Thai, or English;
• Evidence of producing clear and concise reports in Thai with high quality.

Submission of application

Applications should be submitted no later than 21 October 2024.  Applications should be in English language, including i) a resume of not more than 3 pages; ii) a cover letter; iii) detailed budget to carry out this consultancy, costs including consultant fee, transportation, accommodation in the field; iv) proposed workplan in line with the timeframe in this term of reference; v) contact details of 2 references should be submitted by email to dararai@adrathailand.org.

Evaluation of application

Applications will be evaluated by a selection committee within 7 days of the application deadline.  Only successful candidate will be contacted within two weeks after the application deadline.