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1.   PURPOSE OF THIS CONTRACT

Oxfam together with partners are implementing the 5-year program on “Improved social protection and labour rights for women workers in ASEAN’s Agri-food Sector (2022-2026)” in Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam and together with regional partners, funded by Belgium Development Cooperation (DGD). The program aims to empower precarious women workers in agri-food sector to address their rights, needs and vulnerabilities through the promotion of 3 pillars of the JSF Decent Work: Labour Rights at Work, Social Protection and Social Dialogue for All.

The purpose of this Agreement is to retain the services of the Consultant to conduct a Legal Analysis of the Draft Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Law, with the objective of ensuring its alignment with Cambodia’s Labour Law and ILO international labour standards, identifying potential inconsistencies or gaps, and providing recommendations to support effective implementation and enforcement.

The purpose of this Agreement is to engage the Consultant to:

• Conduct a comprehensive legal analysis of the draft OSH Law.
• Assess its consistency and compliance with Cambodia’s Labour Law, existing national legislation, and relevant implementing regulations.
• Review alignment with ILO international labour standards, in particular related to the regulatory framework, scope, roles of authorities, duties of employers and employees as well as safety inspection and enforcement
• Identify legal gaps, overlaps, or conflicts between the draft OSH law and the Labour Law.
• Assess how this draft OSH law responds to the needs of    workers in informal economy, in particular women
• Identify best practices from the region or similar context what could be used as examples for further engagement and influencing.
• Provide recommendations to ensure the draft law strengthens worker protection, is legally enforceable, and harmonizes with Cambodia’s broader labour framework.

The final report will support advocacy, policy engagement and programmatic decision making by Oxfam, and Partners.

2.   BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT

Cambodia’s rapid economic growth over the past two decades has been accompanied by significant expansion of its workforce, much of which remains concentrated in the informal economy. Workers in sectors such as agriculture, construction, non-standard forms of employment (e.g. gig work) and small-scale enterprises often face hazardous conditions without adequate protection, leaving them vulnerable to occupational accidents, injuries, and diseases. While the Labour Law of 1997 provides a foundation for OSH, its coverage is largely limited to formal enterprises, creating a gap in protection for most Cambodian workers. This gap has become increasingly pressing as the country seeks to modernize its labour governance framework and ensure inclusive growth.

At the international level, Cambodia is a member of the ILO and has ratified several conventions that emphasize the right of all workers to safe and healthy working environments. The development of a comprehensive OSH law is therefore both a national priority and a step toward fulfilling Cambodia’s international commitments. The draft OSH law represents a critical opportunity to harmonize domestic legislation with global labour standards, strengthen enforcement mechanisms, and extend protections to informal economy workers who are often excluded from regulatory frameworks.

The timing of this initiative is particularly strategic. Cambodia is advancing its sustainable development agenda and preparing its next generation of climate commitments, recognizing that worker safety and resilience are integral to economic and social stability. The draft OSH law has been developed through consultations with government ministries, employers’ associations, trade unions, and civil society, reflecting a participatory approach that seeks to balance economic competitiveness with social protection. However, challenges remain in terms of enforcement capacity, awareness among workers, and resource mobilization. Against this background, a legal analysis of the draft OSH law is essential to ensure its alignment with Cambodia’s Labour Law, identify potential gaps or inconsistencies, and provide recommendations that will strengthen its effectiveness and inclusivity.

3.           SCOPE OF WORK

The consultant will be responsible for conducting a comprehensive legal research analysis of the draft OSH Law, ensuring its alignment with Cambodia’s Labour Law and international standards, identifying gaps and risks, and providing practical recommendations to strengthen its effectiveness, inclusivity, and enforceability.

• Document Review and Legal Analysis
• Gap Identification and Risk Assessment
• Informal Economy Focus
• Gender Analysis
• Stakeholder Consultation
• Recommendations and Reporting

4.   DELIVERABLES

Objective: The consultant will deliver a series of outputs, including an inception report, draft and final legal analysis reports, policy recommendations, stakeholder consultation notes, and presentation materials, culminating in a final consolidated report that provides actionable guidance for strengthening Cambodia’s draft OSH Law."

Specific outputs and deliverables

The consultant is expected to deliver the following outputs:

• Inception Report
• Legal Analysis Report (Draft and Final)
• Policy Recommendations
• Stakeholder Consultation Notes
• Presentation Materials
• Final Consolidated Report

5.   PAYMENT SCHEDULE

Remuneration is based on the submission of final deliverables according to the schedule. No payment will be made in advance.

6.   METHODOLOGY

The methodology combines legal document review, comparative analysis, and stakeholder consultations to provide a comprehensive assessment of Cambodia’s draft OSH Law, with particular emphasis on its alignment with the Labour Law, international standards, and its relevance to informal economy workers.

7.   Planned timeline

8.   PROFILE REQUIREMENTS

The company/ individual(s) should have the following competencies:

Essential criteria

• Advanced degree in law, social sciences, labour law and labour standards studies, or related field
• Minimum 7–10 years’ experience in legal analysis, research, data analysis, and report writing
• Proven experience with mixed-methods research
• Strong understanding of labour law, ILO international labour standards
• Experience working with NGOs, associations and trade unions
• Excellent analytical writing skills in English
• Familiarity participatory methodologies
• Experience working in Southeast Asia or Cambodia
• Understanding of gender and social inclusion analysis

9.   APPLICATION PROCESS

Administrative compliance (list of documents to be submitted)

To be shortlisted for evaluation against award criteria, the following documents must be included in the application:

Clarification on the Terms of Reference for Consultancy

For further detail of the ToR, please refer to this link: https://oxfam.box.com/s/1j8yxzdf5albb8zkx0jqvdkyjjeqmz3w

Prospective applicants may seek clarification of the Terms of Reference or other queries related to the assignment to visal.tan@oxfam.org within 7 days of the issuance of the ToR in writing. The clarification and its replies will be shared with all prospective applicants via their official email