CONSULTANT: NATIONAL WAGE SURVEY AND MINIMUM WAGE IMPACT ASSESSMENT

Job Description

Location: Apia, Samoa and home based

Duration: 60 working days

ARF Category: C3/C4 dependent on work experience

Est. Date: 2020

Programme Background

Adam Smith International (ASI) manages the Samoa Governance Support Programme, which is funded by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).

Established in 2016 following agreement between the Government of Samoa (GoS) and the Government of Australia, the Samoa Governance Support Programme (the Programme) works with the GoS to achieve sustainable and equitable development in accordance with the Strategy for the Development of Samoa (2017-2020) and the Australia-Samoa Aid Partnership Arrangement (2016-2019). The Programme has two objectives: to develop and strengthen policies and institutions that enable sustainable and inclusive economic growth, especially private sector-led growth; and to improve economic governance by addressing issues that affect underlying public sector capability and performance.

Responsibility for the strategic management of the Programme rests with the Programme Steering Committee, whose membership comprises the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Ministry of Finance (chair); the CEO of the Ministry of Prime Minister and Cabinet (deputy chair); the Chair of the Public Service Commission; and the Australian High Commissioner to Samoa.

Aim of the Assignment

In recent times, growing inequality and wage stagnation in the industrialised countries, coupled with stubbornly persistent high levels of poverty in many developing countries, have brought the question of the minimum wage to the forefront of political and economic discourse and decision-making.

However, while many developed and developing countries accept in principle the idea of a living or minimum wage, just as many tend not to have a well-established and fair means of doing so. According to the ILO, the main justification for such inaction tends to be that it is difficult to agree on how to define it and how to establish it.

As a result of a minimum wage (MW) review conducted by an independent technical assistant and in close collaboration with the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Labour (MCIL) and the Samoa National Tripartite Forum (SNTF) (the Review), on 1st January 2020, the minimum wage in Samoa was increased from $2.30 to $3.00 per hour

The aim of this assignment will be to help the Industrial Relations, Employment Permits and Occupational Safety and Health (IREPOSH) Division of MCIL to develop a national wage survey and to collect data appropriate for conducting a preliminary impact assessment of the recently introduced minimum wage.

Consultant selection will be based on the following criteria:

• Work experience: Experience of labour market survey work that is clearly relevant – in terms of substantive technical content, scope, and level(s) - to the work outlined in these TOR.
• Country experience: Comparative experience from work carried out in more than one economy.
• Qualifications: An advanced degree in economics or a related field.
• Substantive knowledge: Strong and up-to-date knowledge and experience of economic policy and practice surrounding market regulation. It is essential that the consultant be someone whose general approach to these questions is driven by pragmatic considerations associated with the development context rather than ideological ones derived from a particular paradigm of economics. Refereed publications will be viewed favourably
• Analytical capability: The consultant should be capable of analysing complex problems, evaluating the quality of different types of data, and producing practical and workable solutions.
• Performance under pressure: A consistent record of producing outstanding performance under pressure and of working with senior government counterparts.
• Judgement and mediation: The ability to make independent judgments and to lead discussion, develop consensus on sometimes difficult and controversial issues, and to balance and mediate multiple stakeholder expectations and objectives.
• Knowledge and skill transfer: The ability to convey effectively his/her own knowledge and skills to others.
• Written and oral communication capabilities: It is essential that the consultant possesses the ability to express complex ideas - both in writing and orally – clearly and in plain English to a variety of audiences, including government officials, community groups, entrepreneurs, donors, and other professionals. Short-listed candidates may be required to provide examples of their written work.
• Interpersonal and intercultural skills: Excellent interpersonal and intercultural skills and the ability to manage questions of national and organizational culture skilfully and to build effective and harmonious working relations with clients and counterparts.
• Multiple reporting: The consultant should also be able to work effectively in a matrix management structure or one that has multiple lines of reporting.
• Other skills and knowledge: The consultant should also possess:

1. Research skills, knowledge, and experience of both quantitative and qualitative methods;
2. Good knowledge and understanding of policy development; and
3. Up-to-date knowledge and understanding of the relevant literature.

Length of assignment and locale. The length of the assignment will be 60 days, distributed as follows:

• Five days home-based pre-departure preparatory work
• Two missions to Samoa (15 days and 25 days)
• Fifteen days home-based work (5 days after the first mission and ten days after the second mission to Samoa).

A considerable time space between the two missions is likely to be required for the Statistical Bureau to proceed with data-collection and data-entry processes. All data should be manageable for statistical analyses and the output of 18(a) and 18(b) will serve as the main input for the preliminary impact assessment [18(c)].

After mission 2 has been completed, ten days of home-based work for analysing data and writing the impact assessment report.

How to apply

Interested applicants are requested to submit a CV and a short covering note in an email with the subject “Consultant: National Wage Survey and Minimum Wage Impact Assessment” to Tammy.Theikdi@adamsmithinternational.com. Unfortunately, due to high application volume, only short-listed applicants will be contacted. Detailed terms of reference will be provided to short-listed candidates. Applications close 30^th March 2020.

About the Organization

ASI is committed to continually improve the diversity of our workforce through the attraction, retention and development of a diverse range of talented people. We want people to be comfortable bringing their whole self to work and recognise that inclusion brings further opportunities for innovation and creativity.

# Happy to talk flexible working

Adam Smith International is a strategic development company that helps people prosper by making economies stronger, societies safer, and governments more effective. Our clients are governments, international organisations, companies, and foundations. They come to us to develop strategies and to design, deliver and evaluate programmes that, in turn, stimulate growth, stability and good governance.

Our core team of managers and technical experts, in offices around the world, ensures the quality of delivery and high ethical standards that we and our clients require. We bring together a global network of specialist experts, who contribute their experience and know-how, where and when it is needed.

ASI is owned and operated by its employees, and we are all dedicated to making a meaningful difference in complex, challenging situations. We are committed to corporate integrity and a triple bottom line of social, environmental and financial performance.