The Better Factories Cambodia (BFC) programme started operating in Cambodia in 2001 and is a partnership between the International Labour Organization and the International Finance Corporation. As part of the Better Work flagship programme, BFC engages with workers, employers and the Royal Government of Cambodia to achieve improved health and well-being of garment workers with knock-on effects on workers' families’ welfare, while at the same time strengthening the national industry via increased productivity in garment factories. With a current coverage of 700 factories and 650,000 workers, BFC collaborates closely with industry stakeholders at multiple levels of the supply chain to create sustainable and practical solutions for all. In doing so, the programme aims to improve labour standards in global supply chains, and ensure that workers' rights and entitlements are protected to help distribute the benefits of trade. BFC supports enterprises in implementing the ILO core international labour standards and Cambodian labour law. This helps enterprises compete in global markets where many buyers demand compliance with labour standards from their suppliers.
For the programme’s current strategic phase (2023-2027), BFC and its constituents will work towards a sector with strong labour institutions and labour market governance, strong and skilled local factory management and technical specialists, with a focus on sustainably improving the persistent non-compliances on occupational safety and health (OSH) and human resources (HR) systems, rigorous application of international labour standards, and towards increased gender equality in the sector.
At the enterprise level, the programme has three factory-level services: a) Independent annual assessments of factories; b) enterprise advisory focusing on establishing worker-management committees (social dialogue) and supporting improvements in factories; and c) training services designed to support practical improvements in the factory.
Since 2016, BFC has had an integral role in convening stakeholders (including brands, development partners and NGOs) to look at the issue of unsafe commuting for garment workers, to and from the workplace each day. BFC convenes a working group to look at these issues (called the Transportation Working Group) to discuss potential interventions and strategies to tackle the issue as a sector-wide response.
Annually, Cambodian youth account for nearly 50% of all road fatalities. The UN Road Safety Fund (UNRSF) project will from January 2024 be implemented by the ILO and AIP Foundation; with technical support and assistance from the WHO and UNICEF. The project will work to reduce road crash injuries and fatalities for factory workers and young people by building upon ongoing efforts to scale the implementation of a policy and procedure framework for factories. Function:
The role of the trainer and transportation safety coordinator is to:
provide professional inclusive and interactive trainings for factory managers and workers; including giving advice on improvements on factory’s compliance vis-à-vis international core labour standards and the Cambodian labour law; and to advise and support factories in remediation and enterprise improvement in worker-management committees (bipartite committees); and
as coordinator for the Transportation Safety project be responsible for all activities related to BFC’s response to garment worker’s commuting safety initiatives. This would involve acting as de facto secretariat for the TWG (Transportation Working Group), representing the ILO at road safety workshops, and driving the road safety agenda on behalf of the TWG in Cambodia forward.
Supervision and Guidance
The Project Officer will report to the Better Factories Cambodia Deputy Programme Manager, who is based in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
Responsibilities:
Training (50%):
Provide high quality enterprise level support services designed to improve enterprise performance including coaching, facilitating worker-management committees, providing technical advice and conducting trainings;
Provide high quality training services to factory management, workers and trade unions for effective workplace improvements and positive changes at the enterprise level;
Provide effective capacity development to help strengthen the ability of ILO’s constituents;
Design high quality gender sensitive training materials incorporating the concept of inclusiveness, quality, relevancy and behavioral changes in the training content and its facilitation approaches;
Provide technical advice and input into the development of Better Factories Cambodia/Better Work research, products and strategies;
Actively contribute to the project’s monitoring and evaluation of training services;
Adopt a gender inclusive approach across all factory level activities;
Other duties as required by the supervisor/s.
Transportation Safety Project Coordination (50%):
Facilitate and convene regular meetings of the transportation working group (TWG) including coordinating brands and development agencies to discuss strategic interventions related to garment worker transportation safety;
Act as liaison between internal and external stakeholders to represent the Transportation Working Group and to update UN counterparts on an as needed basis;
Report on outputs and activities related to proposals on a needs basis according to funding requirements;
Meet regularly with AIP Foundation and WHO to discuss and drive forward programmatic activities related to the UNRSF project;
Contribute to the implementation of the programme’s strategy and collaboration with the stakeholders on sustained compliance at industry level
Education:
University degree in human resource management, adult education, international development, law or other relevant fields, or equivalent in experience.
Experience:
At least two years of professional experience in project coordination, social dialogue, training or capacity development in the private sector or development organisations, work on gender equality, occupational health and safety, productivity and corporate social responsibility (particularly in the field of labour standards compliance and remediation) or other relevant field. Work related to transportation safety in Cambodia will be considered an asset.
Languages:
Excellent command of English and Khmer. Knowledge in Chinese would be an advantage.
