Deadline: 14-Jun-23
The U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (DRL) announces an open competition for organizations interested in strengthening labor rights protections for migrant workers in Southeast Asia.
The contribution of migrant workers to the economies of Southeast Asia is substantial, yet many work in unsafe, exploitative, and abusive conditions. Migrant workers in the region are often denied their labor rights and have no access to social protections. The COVID-19 pandemic has further exacerbated migrant workers’ vulnerabilities, particularly for women migrant workers who are over-represented in low-paid and low-skilled jobs.
Migrant workers in Southeast Asia are subject to forced overtime, wage theft, informalized payments, and exposure to occupational safety and health hazards. Labor violations are particularly acute in the region’s special economic zones, which lack presence of labor inspectors. Workers have little to no social protection and coverage under labor law. Lack of government oversight of fair migration practices and coordination with neighboring countries contributes to unfair recruitment from sourcing countries. Workers’ limited understanding of the bureaucracy of migration practices and language limitations, in addition to changing governmental regulations, are challenges that currently oblige migrants to rely on unscrupulous labor brokers or employers to properly file visa paperwork.
DRL requests proposals for a $1,200,000 project to help vulnerable migrant workers in Southeast Asia organize to promote their rights and access social protections. Proposals may target up to three sectors (with the exclusion of the fishing industry), and should have particular emphasis on workers in the informal economy. Programs may propose to work with migrants in one country or across multiple countries. Programs should aim to achieve the following objectives:
- Migrant workers in host country or countries in Southeast Asia organize to advocate for their rights, including legal wages and formalized payments; legal work hours and paid overtime; health and safety at work and remedy of work related health issues; and access to social protections;
- Workers advocate for governments across Southeast Asia to coordinate in facilitating safe migration patterns, including through memoranda of understanding (MOUs) with sourcing countries, to ensure fair recruitment; and
- Workers and allied groups advocate for labor inspectors to practice due diligence in enforcing labor law within migrant labor workplaces, whether in formal or informal sectors.
Funding Information
- Total Funding Floor: $1,200,000
- Total Funding Ceiling: $1,200,000
- Period of Performance: 24-36 months
Outcomes
- Proposed projects should be designed to achieve the following outcomes:
- Workers and allied groups advocate for improved due diligence and enforcement of labor law within migrant labor workplaces via labor inspectors or other methods.
- Migrant workers have access to formalized payments, paid overtime, better occupational health and safety conditions, and social protections.
- Governments have policies and practices in place to ensure safe migration patterns and fair recruitment.
- Application of labor laws to special economic zones is expanded and strengthened.
- Workers are aware of their rights to organize.
Eligibility Criteria
- DRL welcomes applications from U.S.-based and foreign-based non-profit organizations/nongovernmental organizations (NGO) and public international organizations; private, public, or state institutions of higher education; and for-profit organizations or businesses. DRL’s preference is to work with non-profit entities; however, there may be some occasions when a for-profit entity is best suited.
- Applications submitted by for-profit entities may be subject to additional review following the panel selection process. Additionally, the Department of State prohibits profit to for-profit or commercial organizations under its assistance awards. Profit is defined as any amount in excess of allowable direct and indirect costs. The allowability of costs incurred by commercial organizations is determined in accordance with the provisions of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) at 48 CFR 30, Cost Accounting Standards Administration, and 48 CFR 31 Contract Cost Principles and Procedures.
Requirements
- Where appropriate, competitive proposals may include:
- Opportunities for beneficiaries to apply their new knowledge and skills in practical efforts;
- Solicitation of feedback and suggestions from beneficiaries when developing activities in order to strengthen the sustainability of programs and participant ownership of project outcomes;
- Input from participants on sustainability plans and systematic review of the plans throughout the life of the project, with adjustments made as necessary;
- Inclusion of vulnerable populations;
- Joint identification and definition of key concepts with relevant stakeholders and stakeholder input into project activities;
- Systematic follow up with beneficiaries at specific intervals after the completion of activities to track how beneficiaries are retaining new knowledge as well as applying their new skills.
Ineligible
- Activities that are not typically allowed include, but are not limited to:
- The provision of humanitarian assistance;
- English language instruction;
- Development of high-tech computer or communications software and/or hardware;
- Purely academic exchanges or fellowships;
- External exchanges or fellowships lasting longer than six months;
- Off-shore activities that are not clearly linked to in-country initiatives and impact or are not necessary per security concerns;
- Theoretical explorations of human rights or democracy issues, including projects aimed primarily at research and evaluation that do not incorporate training or capacity-building for local civil society;
- Micro-loans or similar small business development initiatives;
- Initiatives directed towards a diaspora community rather than current residents of targeted countries.
For more information, visit DRL.