Terms of Reference
Technical Specialist in Fire Safety
1. Background
Fire safety is a critical issue for all production enterprises, especially those in the garment and textile industries, and is a significant concern for society. The government has emphasized the need for urgent action from agencies, businesses, and communities to address this matter. Given the flammable nature of the materials used in garment and textile production, factories in these sectors have made substantial investments in fire safety systems. However, recent times have seen a troubling rise in fire incidents within garment factories, leading to substantial asset losses for businesses and negatively impacting workers’ employment.
To help enterprise advisors and factories participating in the program gain an up-to-date understanding of the requirements and principles for implementing fire safety in the workplace, Better Work Viet Nam (https://betterwork.org/vietnam/) is seeking a technical consultant. This consultant will deliver thematic seminars and provide updated guidance on fire safety legal requirements and best practices, tailored specifically to the needs of the garment and footwear sectors.
2. Objectives:
The goal is to ensure that factories not only comply with legal requirements but also adopt proactive measures to prevent fires, reduce risks, and protect both assets and lives. By enhancing fire safety awareness and practices in the workplace, Better Work Vietnam aims to contribute to a safer and more sustainable working environment within the industries.
3. Scope of works
The Consultant will collaborate closely with the Better Work Viet Nam team to accomplish the following tasks:
- Study and summarize the legal updates and standards related to fire protection and firefighting applicable in 2024 and 2025.
- Create a table to clarify the changes in laws and standards on fire protection and firefighting between 2019, 2024, and the new legal updates effective from July 2025.
- Lead three sharing sessions, each lasting half-day (one for Better Work staff and two for factories), to highlight the legal updates. A PowerPoint presentation summarizing these highlights is also required. Additional terms:
- The selected consultant is required to protect Better Work materials as intellectual property and must not transfer these materials in any form (hard copy or soft copy) to any third party without consent from Better Work Vietnam (BWV).
- The selected Consultant is required to respect and follow Better Work communication guidelines, ensuring consistent use of Better Work’s image, brand name, logos, promotional materials, and introduction information.
4. Expected outcomes:
- A thematic document presenting the legal updates on fire safety for 2025, including a table showing the changes in laws and standards on fire protection and firefighting between 2019, 2024, and the new legal updates effective from July 2025.
- A PowerPoint presentation summarizing the legal updates and the mentioned legal changes.
- One sharing session (0.5 day) for Better Work enterprise advisors, hosted from the Better Work Hanoi office.
- Two virtual seminars (0.5 day) for enterprises, hosted from the Better Work Hanoi office.
5. Timeline
This work may begin from May 2025 and must be completed by June 2025.
6. Qualification criteria
Educational qualification:
- Master (or higher) degree in Fire Safety and Industrial Safety, Social Science/Industrial Relations/law or other relevant fields, and/or equivalent in experience.
Experience:
- At least 8 years of professional experience in fire safety and industrial safety.
- At least 5 years of experience in lecturing on fire safety and industrial safety.
- Extensive experience working with industries in the areas of fire safety and industrial safety.
- Experience working with ILO/Better Work is a plus.
Language:
Good command of both Vietnamese and English (written), with Vietnamese being his/her first language.
7. Competencies:
- Strong communication skills, both oral and written.
- Excellent analytical abilities.
- In-depth knowledge of Vietnamese fire safety laws, regulations, and standards.
- Good understanding of international labor standards (ILS).
- Proficient and practical experience in safety and health, with experience in the garment and footwear industry being an advantage.
- Proven ability to work and communicate effectively with skilled technical staff and various groups from factories and industries.
8. Evaluation Criteria:
Candidates will be shortlisted based on how well they meet the minimum requirements for the position, as demonstrated through their cover letter and CV/resume.
The evaluation will consider the best value, assessing a combination of factors including qualifications, relevant experience, and the proposed daily rate and number of working days. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
9. Application Information:
Interested consultants are invited to submit their letter of interest and application by COB on 18 April 2025, including the following details:
- CV and details of at least 2 references
- Cover letter
- Sample work that is relevant to this consultancy
- Daily consultancy rate and proposed number of working days
Applications should be submitted via email to Ms. Bui Thanh Thuy – Better Work Viet Nam at [email protected].