Job Title

RFP- Development of a Comprehensive Business Charter for the Construction and Brick Kiln Sectors

Job Location

India – Delhi and 4 districts in Punjab (Tarn Taran, Bathinda, Firozpur, Mansa)

Nature of Employment

Consultancy of Two month,

Nature of Job

Research & Documentation

About ActionAid Association

ActionAid Association (AAA) is a national organization and an affiliate of ActionAid International federation, a global movement of people working together to further human rights and committed to defeat poverty and injustice. Working in India since 1972, AAA currently operates out of 12 Regional Offices, spread across 25 States and one Union Territory. A non-profit, AAA has been working with people, by building their agencies and solidarities at local, national, and international levels.

For more details, please refer to our website – https://www.actionaidindia.org/

About the project

To develop a comprehensive business charter tailored for the construction and brick kiln sectors, focusing on upholding human rights standards. The charter will serve as a guiding framework for industry stakeholders to ensure ethical practices and compliance with legal and ethical norms.

The primary objective of this initiative is to enhance industry practices in the construction and brick kiln sectors by establishing a clear set of guidelines aligned with human rights standards. The charter aims to promote ethical conduct, fair labor practices, and sustainable operations within these sectors.

The study / documentation is a part of ActionAid Association project titled “Enhancing working conditions and rights of workers, with special focus on women workers, and safeguarding children's rights within construction sites in Delhi and brick kiln in Punjab” with the support from the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany, New Delhi. The project is being implemented in 2 states of India – Delhi and Punjab.

Context:

The businesses world over in the race to accumulate profit, have also been doing another race simultaneously of exploiting the labour and the resources. On one hand the capital of the businesses is growing enormously and on the other hand, there is a complete disregard for the natural resources, because of its unbridled exploitation, and enhanced precarity of the workforce. These processes entail an increasing disregard for universal declaration of human rights by businesses, states and corporations world over.  The human rights defenders are facing threat as the businesses are showing tendencies of quashing their rights.

However, with growing consumer awareness, attention has increased manifolds to the disruptive practices by businesses and this has necessitated the businesses to be accountable to the environment in which they operate and about the rights of the labour forces. Also, with growing awareness amongst the labour forces, the number of resistances, struggles and mutinies of affected people has increased across the world in an effort to secure human rights.

These changing scenarios vis-a- vis business and human rights have urged businesses to become more accountable to the laws and rules of the land and particularly be respectful to the human rights of the labour as well as the consumers. Human rights concerns must be included in planning and business operations. Businesses should ensure that core labour standards are respected for their employees and the employees of their business partners. And further they should not engage in acts that violate human rights and should not be complicit in human rights violations.

It has been widely observed that following high standards of labour rights and enhancing accountability towards people and environment saves any business from any social and political disruption, saves the companies from day-to-day labour strife, ensures unhindered access to goods and services, and removes delays in the movement of finished products. Avoiding these, ensures smooth business operations. Protecting the human rights and labour rights of employees increases worker productivity and retention.

The Work site:

The work is related to creating an improved working relation in the brick making industry in Punjab, India. The brick making industry in India comprises of small to large brick moulding fields and brick baking brick – kilns. The brick making industries present one of the worst examples the gross denial of human rights that has been discussed above, practiced by the brick manufacturing business houses. The profit of the industry is accumulated by worst exploitation of labour and extreme exploitation of the upper soil in the leased agricultural fields. The workers are paid extremely low wages (piece rate), have to work for long duration, have no social security- provisions, the living condition is abysmal - tin shades/shanties without basic amenities of water, electricity, sanitation etc. But on the other hand, the business owner lives a fearful life as he has been flouting so many laws. There is also threat of protest from the labour force and that puts them always in rick of getting arrested and prosecuted.

So here also there is a growing realisation among the businesses and the concerned stakeholders that following the law of the land and meeting the core human rights standards, labour rights would facilitate a risk-free business and also the productivity of the labour and the company overall would be enhanced, with net enhancement in business and profit.

Key task

The selected consultant has to primarily create a business-charter for the brick making industry in Punjab and construction sector in Delhi, that would lead to a mutually beneficial work and business ecosystem. The applicants have to suggest us ways/tools that would be adopted by them in creating this charter – we hope that it would be a series of consultations with various stakeholders (left to the imagination of the applicant) along with secondary studies etc.

Deliverables

• Summary of findings from the review of existing charters and legal frameworks.
• Documentation of feedback and recommendations gathered from stakeholder engagements.
• Business Charter: Comprehensive business charter for the construction and brick kiln sectors. incorporating expert input and industry feedback.

Skills and competencies

• Research & Documentation
• Understanding of the Construction and Brick Kiln sector as well as Business and Human Rights 

Reporting to

Head – North Central Cluster, ActionAid Association

Travel

• The consultant will have to travel in the states mentioned for the charter development to meet stakeholders. 

Consultancy Fee Offered

Rs. Two Lakhs as consultancy fees (Tax will be applicable). Additionally, up to Rs. 20,000 for Travel, accommodation, food and stationery on producing actual bills.

To apply

A proposal properly detailing the methodology and the tools they will be using; number/ sample size for each of the field-based tools used; for example, if they are suggesting consultation with any particular stakeholder – Consultation details with whom, why, how many consultations etc.

• Budget – Maximum With complete break up

ActionAid Association will shortlist the consultant and will call for discussion and will finalize the consultant for the proposed action.

Please send your application on the standard application form provided on actionaidindiajobs.org , through   e-mail at recruitment.india@actionaid.org  .Please mention in the subject line as “Development of a Comprehensive Business Charter for the Construction and Brick Kiln Sectors.”

All applicants are encouraged to apply as soon as possible after the RFP has been posted and well before the timeline stated in the RFP announcement. Only short-listed applicants will be contacted. Applications received after the due date will be summarily rejected.

Last Date for Receiving Application

20^th May 2024