Call for Research Proposals

Call for Research Proposals

(10 May 2019 – Deadline for submission)

Background

In July 2018, Oxfam in Lebanon, the Legal Agenda and the Lebanese Observatory for Workers’ and Employees’ Rights, with the support of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, and as part of the My Work, My Rights! project[1] launched an informal network of civil society organizations to advocate for improved protection for individuals involved in the formal and informal labour market in accordance with international human rights law, workers’ rights and labor safeguards.

The Study

One of the network’s objectives is abolishing article 7 of the labour law that excludes the following categories from the protections of the labor code:[2]

• Domestic workers;
• Agricultural unions that are unrelated to trade and industry, which are subject to special legislation;
• Institutions where only members of the family are employed by the father, mother, or guardian;
• Daily and temporary workers of government departments and municipal bodies who are not covered by the employees’ system and are subject to special legislation.

1. Objective

As part of this effort, the network is seeking to hire a research consultant to produce an in-depth understanding of 1) the economic and political repercussions of the exclusion of the above-mentioned categories of workers and 2) the benefits of including these categories in the labor law.

The study to be titled, “The Economic and Political Dimensions of Exclusion: Building the Case for Abolishing Article 7 of the Labour Law” will inform the network’s messaging and advocacy initiatives.

2. Research Questions

Below is an indicative, but not exhaustive, set of research questions the study should address:

Political context:

• Where do Members of Parliament & Ministers from different political affiliation, stand on the issue of exclusion?

• What previous attempts, if any, have been done to abolish Article 7?
• What are the political barriers for abolishing Article 7?
• Where do international influencers, including foreign governments and financial institutions, stand on the issue of exclusion?
• How does exclusion of the various categories of workers, affect Lebanon’s foreign policy and diplomatic relations?
• What political reforms need to happen to absorb these workers into the labour force?

Economic context:

• What is the size of the excluded labour force?
• How does exclusion affect taxation, the minimum wage, GDP and/or economic productivity?
• Are there economic barriers for abolishing Article 7?
• What economic reforms need to happen to absorb these workers into the labour force?
• What support does Lebanon need to include these categories in the labour law?
• Will the government financially benefit from formalizing these sectors? And if so, how?

3. Suggested Research Methodology

The research consultant is expected to develop the methodology for the research, manage the research through use of mixed methods, and produce a research paper which seeks to answer the above research questions.

The research consultant is expected to:

• Conduct a preliminary meeting with the Network to understand expectations, in order to develop a detailed methodology for the research;
• Conduct a literature review /desk review of studies and research conducted on aforementioned issues to date;
• Carry out qualitative data collection including key informant interviews with various stakeholders, including implicated Ministries and MPs and focus group discussions (one should be with Network members);
• Attend at least two meetings or FGDs organized by the Network that can feed into the research.
• Share a draft report with the Oxfam team and members of the network for revisions (the rounds of revisions will not be set ahead of time, and will depend on the quality of the report);
• Develop the final version of the study based on review of first draft by Oxfam and network members;
• Present the findings of the report during a round-table discussion with Network members and other stakeholders. Research consultant is expected to incorporate the findings of the report in a PowerPoint presentation. The details of this event will be discussed at a later stage.

Format

Format

The study will follow the below format:

1. Summary of key findings
2. Methodology and limitations
3. Introduction and context
4. Main findings (organized thematically)
5. Recommendations (organized by targeted stakeholder)
6. Conclusion
7. References
8. Annexes (e.g. data collection tools, list of stakeholders)

The research report, which will be in English, should not exceed 6000 words in length (not including the section on References and Annexes).

Expected deliverables and timeline

The project will commence on 1 April 2019 and submission of final report on 6 August 2019, with deliverables in-between (please refer to timeline below). A roundtable discussion and presentation of the report will take place between 13-15 August 2019.

Type of deliverable

Description

April

May

June

July

August

Final Research Methodology

A paper which specifies the methodology including the data collection and analysis plan. The stakeholders to be interviewed should be agreed on.

Findings from the literature review

A short report highlighting the main findings from the literature review/desk review

Feedback from KIIs and FGDs

Conducting KIIs and FGDs with regular updates and communication on important findings

First research report draft

A first draft of the report paper that presents the findings to be reviewed[3] and discussed by the Network.

Second draft of the research report

A second draft of the report paper that presents the findings to be reviewed and discussed by the Network.

Final research report

Final report is submitted

Round-table

Round table that will include decision makers and other stakeholders.

Remuneration and Selection Process

1. Budget

Budget will be determined based on evaluation of the applications, and profiles of candidates. Applicants are asked to submit a budget that includes all expenses relevant to the completion of the assignment.

2. Selection

Applicants should submit a clear research proposal including: an outline, potential interview list, preliminary list of primary and secondary sources and quotation to: lebanonjobs@oxfam.org.uk with “Study on Article 7 of the Labour Law” in the subject line. Proposals should be submitted by 10 May 2019. Applications should also send a CV. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

[1] The goal of the My Work, My Rights! project is to contribute to improved protection for individuals involved in the formal and informal labour market in Lebanon, in accordance with international human rights law, workers’ rights and labour safeguards.

[2] Labour Reg., General Provisions, Labour Law (23 September 1946), https://www.labor.gov.lb/Temp/Files/574b61dd-1233-4507-9da1-d4a3e3a6129a.pdf

[3] A review will entail two rounds of comprehensive comments.