International Labour Organization (ILO) Better Work Viet Nam (BWV)
TERMS OF REFERENCE
Assignment: National consultant to conduct Compliance Assessment of
RMG/Footwear factories
Contract Type: External Collaboration Contract (Individual)
Number of Collaborators: 01-02 persons
Timeframe: July 2025 – June 2026. (Tentative)
|
Location: |
Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam (with travel to nearby provinces) |
|
Required languages:
|
English and Vietnamese |
|
Duration of Contract: |
Tentatively 115 working days x 2 persons. |
Each consultant will conduct and finalize 40 assessments over the period of July 2025 to June 2026 and participate in 05 days for process orientation. (The specific dates will be finalized after completion of the recruitment and selection process)
1. Background
Better Work is an innovative global partnership program between the International Labour Organization (ILO) of the United Nation and the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group. The program aims to improve labour standards and enhance competitiveness in global supply chains. It takes an integrated approach which includes factory level-assessment, advisory, and training and industry – wide seminars to promote cross-sector learning and knowledge sharing. We collaborate with national and industry stakeholders as well as other relevant organizations to create positive reipple effects across industries and beyond. In Vietnam, around 500 factories in the apparel and footwear industries actively participate in our activities. These initiatives are implemented under the guidance of and in collaboration with the national tripartite constituents.
As part of the factory engagement package, Better Work conducts annual assessments of the factory’s compliance with national labour law and international labour standards. These assessments serve as the foundation for the development of a comprehensive improvement plan tailored to each factory. The detailed assessment findings are communicated with the factory management, who may, at their discretion, authorizeBetter Work to share the assessment reports with their international buyers.
2. Objective of the assignment
The external collaborator is expected to conduct the assessment of factory’s compliance to labour standards and finalize the reports based on the given assessment tools, template and methodology.
The Compliance Assessments are conducted strictly based on the approved Compliance Assessment Tool (CAT), and covers the areas of child labour, forced labour, discrimination, and freedom of association and collective bargaining, compensation, contract and workplace relations, occupational safety, and health, and working time.
The assessments should also be in line with the Assessment Guidelines, which outlines the assessment methodology and process required by the Programme.
3. Scope of works
- Following BWV assessment guidelines, conduct enterprise social compliance assessment/SLCP assessment based on BWV CAT. The assessment shall be jointly conducted with a BWV Enterprise Advisor (EA);
- Maintain BWV Quality Assurance and Quality Check (QA & QC) standard of assessment and data confidentiality.
- Independently produce high quality reports in English on assessments findings.
- Follow BWV report writing process, guidelines, alignments, and instruction.
- Peer review the reports with assigned team members as part of the Better Work quality assurance system;
- All evidence (e.g. documents, photos, interview sheet etc.) supporting the findings should be archived and shared following the BW, ILO procedures, and should be producible when required by the programme.
- The consultant is expected to maintain full confidentiality of Better Work, ILO assignment details, general BW procedure and guidelines, and ensure that the BWV anti-bribery policy is strictly followed. The consultant is also expected to maintain transparency with BWV, ILO, and abide by the Ethical code of conducts of Better Work.
4. Projected Deliverables
|
SL no |
Deliverables |
Expert days |
|
A.1. |
a. Attending in BW process orientation & in factory trial assessment; sample report writing, sample report review |
05 days |
|
A.2. |
Conducting 40 onsite Assessments of the assigned factories.
|
80 days (40*2) (Subject to number of factories assigned)
|
|
A.3. |
Finalization of 40 VCC/Hybrid/Assessment reports (Report writing, submission, respond to the assessed factory’s feedback and finalizations) |
30 days (40*0.75) (Subject to number of factories assigned for VCC/Hybrid and in person onsite assessment) |
|
|
Grand total: A.1 +A.2+A.3 |
115 days (approximately) |
5. Possible Locations of the Assignment:
Ho Chi Minh, Binh Duong, Ben Tre, Ba Ria Vung Tau, Can Tho, Dong Nai, Long An, Soc Trang, Tay Ninh, Tien Giang, Vinh Long.
6. Timeframe
July 2025 – June 2026. (Tentative)
7. Qualification criteria
Educational qualification:
University degree in Human Resource management/Business administration/Development Studies/Development Economics, Social Science/Industrial Relations/law or other relevant fields, and/or equivalent in experience.
Experience:
At least 3 years of professional experience in social compliance assessment/ auditing/verification/factory compliance inspection/Corporate social responsibility, social dialogue, directly involvement in worker & management interview process, producing assessment/audit reports and review reports.
Certification: Certificate in SLCP verification, or social auditing is an added advantage.
Language:
Excellent command of both Vietnamese and English (spoken and written), with Vietnamese being his/her first language.
8. Competencies:
- Good communications skills, both oral and written.
- Good analytical skills.
- Good knowledge of the Vietnamese labour law and regulations.
- Good understanding of international labour standard (ILS).
- Good knowledge of industrial relation (IR).
- Well conversant and practical experiences in safety and health. Experience in RMG industry is an advantage.
- Understanding of enterprise level human resource, production, and quality systems.
- Good understanding of corporate social responsibility and labour compliance issues in global supply chain.
- Self-motivated team player, able to contribute in an outcomes-based work culture
- Familiarity with Social and Labour Convergence programme (SLCP) is an advantage.
- Ability to work independently and under pressure and with minimal supervision.
- Understanding of gender equality and gender mainstreaming principles.
- Demonstrate ability to work and communicate with people in a courteous and cooperative manner, with high standards of ethical conduct.
9. Reporting:
The consultant will work with Better Work enterprise advisors and report to the Team Leader based in Ho Chi Minh city Office.
10. Other logistic support and conditions:
Better Work Viet Nam shall NOT provide office space in Ho Chi Minh/other places and logistics (like Laptop, Cell Phone, Printer, internet service, Paper, local travel for home to ILO/BW office to home, etc.) to carry out day-to-day jobs of the consultant.
For the purpose of Q&A, and facilitating the report writing process, the consultant may use the office meeting room of BWV, in line with the Office’s rules and regulations.
Better Work Viet Nam shall arrange transportation for the consultants to conduct assessment at factories as assigned by the program. In case of overnight stay required by the mission trips, BWV will cover the cost of accommodation and stipend fee in accordance with ILO’s policy.
The consultants must ensure that adequate insurance coverage is available to provide compensation in the event of losses, injury or illness which may occur during the period in which the obligations under this assignment are executed and understands that the ILO/ Better Work Viet Nam accepts no liability for these risks.
11. Evaluation Criteria:
- Candidates will be shortlisted based on how well they meet the minimum requirements for the position, as demonstrated via the cover letter and CV/resume.
- Evaluation will be based on best value, through a combination of qualifications including qualification, relevant experience, and proposed daily rate.
- Shortlisted candidates will be contacted for interview, and references may be consulted.
12. Application Information:
Interested consultants can send their letter of interest and application by on 27 May 2025 with the following details:
- CV and details of at least 2 references
- Cover letter
- Sample work that is relevant to this consultancy
- Daily consultancy rate
Address for application: Application should be submitted by email to [email protected] under the subject: “[Your name] – Application for part-time assessor”.