ToR: External Collaboration Contract: Mapping of platform economy-related research, law and practice initiatives in the Arab States

Purpose

This external collaboration contract would map research and recent developments concerning law and practice in the Arab States relating to digital labour platform work.

Background

The Inclusive Labour Markets, Labour Relations and Working Conditions Branch (INWORK) aims to improve the working conditions and protection of workers through effective policies while contributing to achieving an inclusive labour market, which provides access to quality employment for all. INWORK is responsible for work on wages and incomes, labour relations and collective bargaining; working time and work organization; contractual arrangements, employment protection (economic dimension), digital platforms and data privacy. INWORK also leads two additional policy areas in the Office: formalization of the informal economy and decent work for domestic workers.

INWORK is leading the ILO’s Programme and Budget output focusing on increasing the capacity of Member States to provide adequate labour protection to workers in diverse work arrangements, including on digital labour platforms, and in informal employment.

At its March 2023 session, the ILO Governing Body decided to place on the agenda of the 113th Session of the International Labour Conference in June 2025, standard setting on decent work in the platform economy - with a double discussion procedure.  In accordance with the processes for standard setting agenda items under the ILO Constitution, the Office will prepare a Law and Practice Report on decent work in the platform economy.  

Research objective

The Office is seeking inputs on research and developments in Arab States that are covered by the ILO Regional Office for Arab States relating to law and practice on the platform economy. The aim is to:

1. Assess the extent of laws or regulations that have been adopted to regulate platform work including online platforms (e.g. crowd work) as well as in situ platforms (e.g. food delivery, ridesharing and other in person services).  Such laws can range from new legislation specifically aimed at platform work, amendments to existing labour laws, specific laws that apply to certain sectors (e.g. transport law) or other initiatives.
2. Consider other initiatives such as policy proposals, guidance or draft Bills that may have been developed on aspects of platform work.
3. Consider what efforts or activities have been undertaken by workers in platform work (since 2018) to form associations to represent their interests and whether any agreements have resulted from their efforts.
4. Map other regional or national level work and research in the area of platform work.

For the purposes of completing this assignment, the ILO will share the relevant templates for information collection for completion under (1) - (4) above to be filled in and brief the consultant accordingly.

Tasks and deliverables

Deliverable 1: Clarify the research methods that will be adopted and scope of deliverables with the ILO Regional Office for Arab States within 5 working days of signing of the contract

Deliverable 2: Deliver information in the table supplied by the ILO by 14 August 2023 and draft report (5 pages) of their findings.

Deliverable 3: Provide a mapping of non-ILO research and platform work-related activities in the region as per the template supplied by the ILO by 21 August.

Deliverable 4: Attend a meeting with the ILO Regional Office for Arab States to discuss the draft and process for finalising the table.

Deliverable 5: Submit the final table and mapping of research and other platform related activities to the ILO Regional Office for Arab States by 28 August 2023.

Contract duration

This assignment would commence on 1 August and end on 28 August 2023 and will require a total of 15 working days.

Payment

The consultant will be paid a single payment upon submission of all 5 deliverables to the satisfaction of the ILO by 28 August 2023.

The external collaborator will work under the overall guidance of the Senior Employment Policy Specialist and Head of the Regional Economic and Social Analysis Unit at ILO-ROAS and with the technical support of the Labour Economist and Labour Statistician in the Unit.

Requirements / qualifications

• A minimum of 3 years of relevant professional experience in research- preferably with some legal background.
• Good knowledge of the employment and labour market situation in the Arab States region.
• Excellent research and analytical skills, dealing with complex concepts in a clear and concise manner
• Fluency in English and Arabic

Paragraph 65 GB.347/POL/1 as amended refers

Countries to be covered are Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, OPT, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, UAE and Yemen.