Despite progress in occupational safety and health, 2.9 million workers die every year as a result of occupational accidents or work-related diseases. In addition to these avoidable deaths, many workers are victims of non-fatal work-related injuries; 395 million non-fatal work-related injuries each year result in more than four days of absence from work. These numbers show that work-related accidents and diseases still occur too frequently, with devastating impacts on workers, enterprises and entire communities and economies.
Employment injury benefits schemes sit at the core of national social protection systems; they serve to mitigate the severe financial and social consequences that arise from work related accidents, occupational diseases, and deaths. In line with up-to-date social security standards, - especially the ILO Employment Injury Benefits Convention, 1964 (No. 121) and its related Recommendation (No. 121), the Social Security (Minimum Standards) Convention, 1952 (No. 102), and the Social Protection Floors Recommendation, 2012 (No. 202), C019 - Equality of Treatment (Accident Compensation), and 1925 (No. 19), and Equality of Treatment (Social Security) Convention, 1962 (No. 118) States should ensure the protection of workers in the event of employment injury and occupational diseases through the provision of adequate medical care and rehabilitation services as well as periodical cash benefits (income replacement) in case of temporary incapacity for work, partial and total disability, and death (i.e., survivor benefits to dependents). The objective is not only compensatory but also preventive and integrative, supporting reintegration into the labour market through rehabilitation services and linking with workplace safety systems.
Beyond income protection, a robust employment injury and death compensation system contributes to national development goals. It upholds fundamental rights to social security and safe working conditions, reduces productivity losses through timely medical care and reintegration support, and prevents impoverishment of families due to deaths or disabilities. Moreover, such a system can serve as a gateway for broader social insurance inclusion, particularly in GCC countries where key elements of national social insurance schemes are still evolving for both national and migrant workers in the private sector.
In the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region, the strategic relevance of employment injury protection schemes is particularly acute. GCC economies are characterised by large-scale, labour-intensive development agendas—such as Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and its infrastructure expansion for the FIFA World Cup 2034, in addition to ongoing urban and logistic mega-projects in several countries. These initiatives rely heavily on labour, both national and migrant workers, especially in high-risk or vulnerable sectors such as construction, agriculture, domestic work, transport and energy. The high-risk nature of the work in these sectors, coupled with widespread subcontracting, increases the likelihood of employment-related injuries, while also making accountability diffuse and weak. Without effective and enforceable employment injury including death compensation schemes, the economic and physical risks of these development strategies are disproportionately externalised onto low-paid and vulnerable workers.
Notably, employment injury protection is becoming increasingly important for nationals. As part of economic diversification efforts, GCC governments are encouraging nationals to join private-sector and non-traditional occupations—many of which are now subject to the same workplace risks long faced by migrant workers. Amongst others, these include jobs in logistics, construction management, and platform-based delivery work, with variations of number of national workers employed in these sectors amongst GCC countries. In the absence of universal employment injury schemes, nationals entering these sectors face growing exposure without adequate coverage.
This underlines the urgency of integrating employment injury schemes into a broader, inclusive social insurance framework that support both equity and labour market transitions.
This reality is further compounded by both traditional and emerging risks in the GCC labour market. Conventional occupational hazards (e.g., falls and machinery accidents) are now being amplified by new challenges. Chief among these is climate change, which is driving a surge in heat-related illnesses and fatalities, especially for outdoor workers during increasingly hot weather. According to ILO estimates, 2.41 billion workers are exposed to excessive heat each year. In the Arab States region (including the GCC), the percentage of workers exposed to excessive heat goes up to 83.6%, and the number of occupational injuries attributable to excessive heat was 1,771,890 in 2020.
Across the GCC, migrant workers employed in the private sector are, in principle, entitled to receive medical care and income support during periods of recovery following employment injury, in addition to lump sum-compensation in case of permanent disability or death caused by an employment injury6, as provided under national labour laws. In most jurisdictions benefits are payable by the employer under employer liability arrangements, though some countries have introduced mandatory social insurance schemes, and in other countries private insurance products are available in the market for employers to manage their liabilities.7 The coverage of occupational diseases is inconsistent across countries and schemes. Separate mechanisms are in place under traditional law for compensation of disability or death cases that result from unintentional killing or culpable homicide (including typically in the case of road accidents), sometimes referred to as “blood-money” compensation.
There is limited consolidated evidence on enforcement and monitoring of these entitlements, and a concern that level of effective access are limited especially amongst most vulnerable workers. All GCC countries require employers to report occupational injuries to relevant authorities—typically the police and the Ministry of Labour or its equivalent—which are then expected to initiate an investigation. But there is little evidence of systematic oversight to ensure that compensation and medical costs are actually paid. In practice, legal provisions are often disregarded—whether due to lack of awareness, administrative neglect, or because compliance imposes significant costs on employers (due to employer liability schemes). As a result of these different factors, the formal rights of injured migrant workers are frequently not upheld in practice, leaving many, especially those working in remote areas, and in vulnerable sectors, without adequate redress.
In addition to employment-injury specific arrangements, most legislations provide employer-financed benefits for natural death and disability, in the form of an end-of-service indemnity (EOSI). The complementarity between compensation schemes for employment and natural disability/death is important in the region, in relation to the mechanisms for determination and presumption of causes of death and accidents. Concerns with access to benefits and enforcement, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, have led to number of ongoing efforts at reforming EOSI systems across the region.
Countries of origin have also adopted several measures to reduce risks and protect their workers abroad, including overseas welfare funds that provide some compensation for both work-related and non-work-related injuries and deaths, and mandatory insurance packages, especially life and injury insurance. While such measures do not substitute the responsibility of countries (and employers) of destination, the provide important complementary protection.
They have at the same time be criticized because of the fragmented and duplicative nature in which they operate, and for the fact they put an additional financial burden on workers.
As mentioned, GCC countries vary in how they regulate employment injury compensation including social insurance schemes, employer liability schemes, and private insurance schemes. This diversity provides an opportunity to conduct a comparative review of national frameworks, identify reform opportunities, and support alignment with international standards. Notably, three GCC countries - Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and Oman - have established social insurance-based employment injury schemes covering both national and migrant workers. While these offer more institutionalized and rights-based forms of protection in line with international social security standards, they are not exempt from challenges related to effective access, especially for most vulnerable categories of workers. Recent international scrutiny of occupational deaths and injuries in the GCC—particularly in high-risk sectors such as construction—has also further increased political and public pressure for reform. Additionally, the current momentum provides a strategic opportunity to support policy dialogue and legal reforms. In particular, Oman's ongoing employment injury reforms and the anticipated FIFA World Cup 2034 in Saudi Arabia are expected to serve as catalysts for system-wide improvements in employment injury, including death compensation, prevention and rehabilitation. These developments can serve as entry points for advancing inclusive and comprehensive employment injury protection for all workers, including migrants and women.
As part of the new STREAM programme, in addition to advancing policy and regulatory reforms of employment injury, the ILO is committed to advancing effective access to employment injury protection of all workers, including migrant workers – both women and men, including those with disabilities – in line with international social security standards.
Purpose and Scope
The purpose of this assignment is to conduct a regional comparative review, informed by a series of in-depth country assessments of employment injury benefits systems, schemes and arrangements in the GCC region, with the aim of identifying key policy and institutional priorities to strengthen protection for all workers, particularly migrant workers, who constitute the majority of the workforce.
The review will critically assess key design dimensions (coverage, comprehensiveness, adequacy, financing) in addition to aspects related to the effective access and operational frameworks (linkages to accident reporting mechanisms, enforcement and compliance, OSH and prevention, rehabilitation, portability, etc.) governing employment injury benefits systems, schemes and arrangements.
The assessment will include different categories of workers — such as nationals/migrant workers, those in different types of employment (e.g., self-employed/own-visa workers, part-time workers, temporary workers, workers on digital platforms, workers in multi-party employment relationships) – across all sectors (private and public, special economic zones).11 Special attention will be given to women and workers in high-risk and vulnerable sectors, such as construction, agriculture and domestic work, and to workers in irregular status.
Employment injury benefit schemes and arrangements will be assessed in relation to each of the following sub-components: a) medical care, b) benefits in case of temporary incapacity, c) pensions in case of partial and total permanent disability, and d) pensions in case of death, all in relation to both a) workplace accidents and b) occupational diseases.
While the primary focus will be on schemes for employment injury benefits, the review will also review schemes addressing natural death and disabilities outside the context of employment (e.g. end-of-service, life insurance) and compensation systems reflected in Sharia Law (e.g. blood money), including in relation to commuting accidents. In this vein, the review will identify key challenges and opportunities to enhance complementarity in schemes to ensure the coverage and adequacy of compensation for injuries, diseases and deaths for all workers in the GCC region.
The scope of the assignment is twofold. First, the assignment will result in the production of a regional-level comparative analysis, which aims to stimulate dialogue on the topic, provide clear evidence on good regional practices, generate political momentum, and practical recommendations to support rights-based reforms that progressively expand and institutionalize employment injury protection to all workers in line with international standards.
Second, the regional report will be informed by in-depth country reviews in a selected number of GCC countries which are intended to document strengths and weaknesses of existing schemes in relation to the above-mentioned key dimensions, and will serve as evidence-based entry points for national reforms and to showcase replicable practices within the region. Ultimately, the assignment seeks to contribute to a shift towards more comprehensive, inclusive, and sustainable employment injury benefits systems in the GCC. In doing so, the assignment will assess existing death and injury benefits schemes in light of international social security standards, as well as relevant good international and regional practices.
Activities (in-depth country analysis)
Given the twofold scope of the assessment, the activities will be distinguished for the in-depth country analysis and the regional comparative analysis.
For the purpose of conducting each of the in-depth country analysis, the External Collaborator will:
1- Map and conduct review of existing schemes, coverage, adequacy, comprehensiveness and financing
a. Review existing provisions and/or arrangements for employment injury benefits and other relevant schemes (as defined in the section on scope of work above). This will include legally mandated schemes for workers in the public and private sector, nationals and non-nationals, operating under different mechanisms, including a) social insurance, b) employer-liability (as per national labour law or sharia law), or c) mandatory private insurance.
b. Under each scheme, examine:
1. Material coverage: types of risks covered, for employment injury benefits and other relevant schemes (as defined in the section on scope of work above)
2. Personal coverage: categories of workers covered (e.g., nationals, non-nationals), those in diverse forms type of employment (e.g., self-employed, own-visa, part-time, temporary, workers on digital platforms, workers in multi-party employment relationships), sectors of work (domestic workers, construction workers, agriculture workers), and those in irregular status, Provide an overview of the scope of legal application of different arrangements and schemes to different categories of workers and segments of the workforce as relevant. (for considerations of effective coverage see point 4 below)
3. Adequacy and comprehensiveness of benefits and services provided, in accordance with qualitative and quantitative parameters set in ILO standards
4. Financing arrangements: For each scheme, review the financing structure and sustainability model, including:
a. Financing modality (employer liability, private or public insurance), level and nature of participation of different financing parties, mechanisms to ensure financial sustainability and predictability in financing;
b. Where applicable, in case of insurance-based systems: Premiums/contribution rates, presence of wage ceilings, and whether rates are uniform or differentiated by
c. Review the legislative and regulatory frameworks of the schemes in line with international social security standards especially the ILO Employment Injury Benefits Convention, 1964 (No. 121) and its related Recommendation (No. 121), the Social Security (Minimum Standards) Convention, 1952 (No. 102), and the Social Protection Floors Recommendation, 2012 (No. 202), as well as relevant good international and good practices within the GCC region and beyond.
d. Assess existing schemes or other mechanisms for insurance/compensation for non-work-related deaths and disabilities, as well as commuting accidents, under social security, labour or traditional law and identify synergies and overlaps with work-related compensation systems.
2- Analyse the role private insurance
a. Analyse the role of private insurance in relation to the provision of employment injury benefits, in addition to non-work-related deaths and disabilities as defined in the scope above. The analysis should explore the extent to which private insurance schemes complement, overlap with, or substitute statutory benefits.
b. Map and review types of private insurance schemes available, their mandatory or voluntary nature, coverage rules, the categories of workers they cover, benefits provided and typical exclusions, pricing structure, market share and significance.
c. Identify the regulatory and oversight mechanisms governing private insurance operations. Examine compliance mechanisms especially in thigh risk sectors.
3- Review governance, institutional and administrative frameworks, procedures and linkages
a. Map the institutional architecture and coordination between different actors (public institutions (e.g., social insurance institutions, ministries of labour/health, labour courts), regulatory bodies (e.g., insurance regulators), private actors.
b. Assess governance frameworks for the schemes, including in relation to accountability and transparency, the participation key stakeholders and the nature of workers and employers engagement in the oversight
c. Evaluate the current institutional and administrative framework, and assess roles and responsibilities for the scheme administration across key functions including: awareness raising, outreach and registration, contribution collection (if applicable), eligibility determination/assessment/reassessment (including disability assessment), claim and payment, enforcement mechanism for non-compliance, grievance redressal, complaints mechanisms and dispute resolution.
d. Assess linkages between processes related to injury benefit schemes and a) labour inspection; b) social security inspection; c) health system; d) occupational safety and health systems/mechanisms. Map out current administrative procedures and processes in place for reporting, investigating and recording accidents and deaths. Analyse systems for adjudicating work-related vs. other/natural accidents/deaths as well as procedures and roles in accident and death classification.
e. Assess linkages between existing employment injury benefits schemes and other components of social protection and social policy systems (including the general health system) for matters of eligibility determination, access to benefits, collection of financing, management of grievances and complaints.
f. Assess the state of interoperability and coordination across relevant systems, including technology enabled systems. Assess the accessibility of digital administrative procedures that may have been put in place across key functions, particularly from the perspective of most vulnerable workers.
In relation to access to health see in particular Bridging Social Protection and Occupational Health to Advance Sustainable Development Goals | ILO
g. Examine how existing schemes 1) promote prevention of accidents (e.g., incentives, penalties, OSH integration), 2) provide access to rehabilitation services free-of charge to the beneficiary, 3) facilitate re-integration into the labour market post-injury, including through collaboration between the social security institutions and vocational training and employment services. In doing so, identify system features (or their absence) that support a shift from a reactive to a preventive and rehabilitative approach in employment injury protection.
h. Assess the overall size and main components of administrative costs borne to support the schemes under review
4- Assess effective access to death and injury protection, identify key barriers to access and evaluate the systems for compliance and enforcement
a. Gather evidence on effective coverage under different arrangement/schemes for different categories of workers, including nationals, migrant workers, and those in diverse forms of employment (e.g., self-employed workers, own-visa, part-time workers, digital and platform workers, workers in multi-party employment relationships). Special attention will be given to women and workers in high-risk sectors, such as construction, agriculture and domestic work, and to workers with irregular status.
b. Analyse and identify key bottlenecks to access, including a review of awareness raising, outreach, complaints and dispute resolution mechanisms.
c. Outline main implications of lack of effectiveness of current schemes and assess the implications and impact on main stakeholders and key actors’ preferences for reform
d. Assess (ex)portability and cross-border benefits
i. Map out documentation and processes for dependants to claim benefits. Review benefit claims processes for families of deceased migrant workers and the level of engagement of consular services and diplomatic missions in these processes.
ii. Review procedures payments of benefits to migrant workers or their dependants abroad (when available).
iii. Identify system features enabling or hindering portability and extraterritorial access to benefits, and propose mechanisms to improve cross-border access, in line with ILO relevant standards, in particular Convention No. 118
5- Identify policy reforms options and priorities (for in-depth country analysis)
a. Develop options for the reform of death and injury benefits system detailing priorities and overall strategy in this area, with a view at extending comprehensive social protection for all workers including migrant workers.
b. Propose suitable options regarding material and personal coverage, proposed benefit package, financing mechanisms, governance and administrative structure. Identify synergies, including across work and non-work related schemes and assess advantages and disadvantages of approaches to streamline and integrate existing systems
c. Identify core elements of the design of a selected number of proposed schemes or reform priorities, based on international benchmarking and assumptions. (A full actuarial valuation will be conducted separately, as it may be necessary).
d. Identify key priorities and options to enhance cross-border access to benefits, in coordination with measure put in place by countries of origin.
e. Based on dialogue on the policy options mentioned above, elaborate a document highlighting key elements of the reforms strategy, the essential design and administrative features of an enhanced model and outlining a roadmap.
Activities (regional comparative analysis)
1- Comparative review of key areas across the six GCC countries
a. Desk review across the (6) GCC countries, highlighting trends and divergences across countries in terms of:
i. Material and personal coverage
ii. Adequacy and comprehensiveness of benefits
iii. Financing arrangements
iv. Institutional arrangements, administrative processes and linkages
v. Role and regulation of private insurance
vi. Effective access, enforcement, compliance and complaint and appeal mechanisms
b. Develop a comparative typology of employment injury benefits schemes and other relevant schemes (as defined in the scope section of this TORs) in the GCC in terms of key areas outlined above, and identify scheme characteristics and degrees of alignment with ILO up-to-date standards and relevant global/regional benchmarks.
2- Systematize and consolidate results from the (3) in-depth country analysis
a. Consolidate and compare results from the (3) in-depth country analysis in line with key dimensions outlined above (activities for in-depth analysis).
b. Highlight systemic barriers, institutional fragmentation, or implementation challenges observed at country level with regional implications.
c. Highlight good practices, policy innovations, and reforms from the case studies that may inform regional replication.
3- Provide a high level review of unilateral measures by sending countries
a. Review and assess key features and typologies of schemes and arrangements put in place by main sending countries to address risks related to deaths and injuries of migrant workers
b. Highlight main point of strength and weakness of unilateral schemes and measures vis a vis benefits provided in countries of destination
c. Assess and review any effort at ensuring coordination in efforts at extending protection on both ends of the corridor, such as through bilateral agreements and other administrative arrangements
4- Identify and assess regional patterns that hinder or facilitate effective access
a. Examine regional structural and operational shortcomings/gaps across the GCC (e.g., de jure or de facto exclusion of certain worker groups, barriers to effective access, fragmentation of schemes, adequacy and comprehensiveness, etc.).
b. Gather evidence on effective coverage for different categories of workers, including nationals, migrant workers, and those in diverse forms of employment (e.g., self-employed workers, part-time workers, own visa workers, digital and platform workers, workers in multi-party employment relationships).
c. Identify key barriers and enablers influencing access with regard to for different categories of workers, including nationals, migrant workers, and those in diverse forms of employment (e.g., self-employed workers, own visa workers, part-time workers, digital and platform workers, workers in multi-party employment relationships).
d. Analyse emerging approaches to extending protection to workers in high-risk sectors, such as construction, agriculture and domestic work.
e. Document and analyse relevant good practices from the GCC region (that could be replicated in other GCC countries), drawing from both existing schemes and ongoing reforms.
5- Propose regional policy recommendations and common reform pathways/entry points
a. Based on the analysis, identify pragmatic entry points ("low-hanging fruits") to enhance the design, implementation, and accessibility of death and injury benefits schemes in the GCC region, in line with that is outlined above.
b. Develop evidence-based, politically viable regional policy recommendations (with phased roadmap or framework) to guide the progressive realization of inclusive death and injury schemes across the GCC with a view at extending comprehensive social protection for all worker including migrant workers in line with up-to-date international standards and best practices.
c. Highlight key opportunities with integration of efforts in extending access to death and injury benefits between countries of origin and of destination
d. Identify relevant regional platforms, networks, and potential champions for promoting regional convergence and reform.
Proposed methodology
The assignment will adopt a mixed-methods approach that includes both qualitative and quantitative data collection including with respect to legal, institutional, and policy analysis along with stakeholder engagement and regional benchmarking. The methodology is designed to ensure a comprehensive understanding of the injury and death benefits landscape in the GCC region (with specific focus on three country cases), grounded in international social security standards and informed by comparative practice.
As per with the activities, given the twofold scope of the assignment, the External Collaborator will capitalize on separate methodologies for each of the in-depth country analysis and the regional comparative analysis. To undertake the activities required for the in-depth country analysis, the External Collaborator will conduct:
a. Comprehensive review of existing legal, policy, and operational documents governing schemes across selected number of GCC countries. This will include but not be limited to the analysis of labour laws, social insurance regulations/laws, employer liability provisions, and private insurance mandates.
b. Systematic assessment of both de jure and de facto coverage of schemes in selected GCC countries. This should include a review of national legislation, implementing regulations, and administrative procedures. To assess de facto coverage, analyse available historical data on occupational accidents, claims, and compensation, including with respect to claim volumes, types of injuries or fatalities, processing timelines, adjudication outcomes, and benefit payments. Where available, national coverage statistics should also be reviewed and disaggregated by worker and sector categories mentioned above.,
c. Market research on the role of private and supplementary insurance providers in the GCC to include type of schemes available, type of employment injuries and occupational diseases covered, type of work- and non-work related deaths and disabilities covered, level of financing and benefits to be paid, and framework for claims, supervision and enforcement.
d. Country-specific stakeholder interviews (virtual and in-person KIIs) with stakeholders responsible for the design and delivery of benefit schemes, including but not limited to, Ministries of Labour and Social Development, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Finance, Social Insurance Institutions, Chamber of Commerce and Industry, employers of domestic workers, representatives of national/regional/global trade unions, National Human Rights Committees, embassies of identified countries of origin, community groups, private insurance companies, and recruitment agencies and labour supply companies. The External Collaborator should ensure to include an equal or balanced number of participants amongst the different stakeholders mentioned above.
e. Focus group discussions with employers’ and workers’ representatives and migrant workers organizations/associations, along with migrant workers themselves particularly in high-risk sectors (mentioned above). This participatory approach will surface lived experiences and perceptions of scheme adequacy, accessibility, and fairness, and highlight systemic barriers faced by different worker groups.
f. Analysis of available administrative data (e.g. on accidents, claims and compensations), including with respect to claim volumes, types, processing timelines, adjudication outcomes, and payments.
g. In-depth country analysis. Deep-dive case studies will be conducted for three countries (TBC) representing both social insurance and employer-liability schemes. These case studies will provide an in-depth assessment of the legal, institutional, and operational environment in the light of international social security standards, will highlight regional and global good practices and critical shortcomings, identify concrete entry points for reform and replication across the region, identify national policy reforms options and priorities, and inform the regional comparative report and contribute to the formulation of forward-looking policy recommendations.
To undertake the activities required for the regional comparative analysis, the External Collaborator will conduct:
a) Desk review of existing legal, policy, and operational documents governing schemes across the GCC countries. This will include but not be limited to the analysis of labour laws, social insurance regulations/laws, employer liability provisions, private insurance mandates, administrative regulations in the six GCC countries, published and unpublished literature on the topic.
b) Synthesis of in-depth country analysis, and capitalize on the results of the in-depth country analysis as primary evidence inputs, to identify regional trends, common gaps, and policy divergence/convergence.
c) Benchmarking against schemes in other countries, especially those with large migrant workforces and good international practices.
d) Stakeholder interviews (virtual or in-person KIIs) across the six GCC countries with stakeholders responsible for the design and delivery of schemes, including but not limited to, Ministries of Labour and Social Development, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Finance, Social Insurance Funds, Chambers of Commerce and Industry, representatives of national/regiona/global trade unions, National Human Rights Committees, embassies of identified countries of origin, private insurance companies, and recruitment agencies and labour supply companies. The External Collaborator should ensure to include an equal number of participants across the GCC countries, and balanced participants amongst the different stakeholders mentioned above.
e) Apply a structured analytical matrix grounded in international social security standards—particularly ILO Conventions No. 121 and 102—to guide the assessment. This matrix will define key dimensions such as legal and effective coverage, adequacy (in terms of the types, level and duration of available benefits), comprehensiveness, and financing, along with key findings related to effective access and operational frameworks (linkages to accident reporting systems, enforcement and compliance, availability and access to effective complaint and appeals mechanisms, OSH and prevention, rehabilitation, portability, etc.) governing different schemes are defined in the section above on the scope of the assignment. The matrix will serve as a common reference for synthesizing and comparing country-level findings.
Table 1: Overview of methodology
Component
Purpose
Methodology
Outputs
Sequence
Component
In-depth country analysis
Purpose
In-depth analysis of selected countries to document strengths and weaknesses of existing schemes in relation to the above-mentioned key dimensions.
Will serve as evidence-based entry points for national reforms and to showcase replicable practices within the region.
Methodology
- Comprehensive review of existing legal, policy, and operational documents
- Systematic assessment of de jure and de facto coverage by reviewing national laws, implementing regulations, and administrative procedures
- Country-specific stakeholder interviews (in-person and online KIIs)
- Focus group discussions
- Analysis of available data on accidents, claims and compensations procedures
- Market research on private schemes
Outputs
- In-depth country analysis
- Documentation of shortcomings and good practices related to the above-mentioned dimensions
- Identification of national policy reforms options and priorities
Sequence
- First case study (TBD).
- Second case study (TBD).
- Third case study (TBD).
Component
Regional Comparative Analysis
Purpose Identify regional trends, shared challenges, provide clear evidence on good regional practices, propose regional policy recommendations and common reform pathways/entry points, across the six GCC countries.
Methodology
- Desk review across six GCC countries
-Synthesis of in-depth country analysis
- Regional comparative framework
Outputs
- Regional comparative analysis
- Regional policy recommendations and common reform pathways/entry points
Sequence
Will be informed by the in-depth country analysis.
Deliverables
The deliverable outputs of the assignment under the scope of these terms of reference will include:
1. Inception report. An inception report outlining the detailed workplan of the assignment, including with respect to timeline, activities, methodology and tools to be used for the in-depth analysis and regional report, key stakeholders, means of engagement with stakeholders, expected challenges, and risk mitigation measures.
2. In-depth country report. The External Collaborator will provide an in-depth country-report on first country (TBD), in line with that outlined above.
3. In-depth country report (TBD). The External Collaborator will provide an in-depth country report on a second country (TBD), in line with that outlined above.
4. In-depth country report (TBD). The External Collaborator will provide an in-depth country report on a second country (TBD), in line with that outlined above
5. Regional comparative analysis. The External Collaborator will provide a regional comparative analysis in line with that outlined above.
6. Presentation of both the regional comparative analysis and in-depth country report. The External Collaborator will prepare and present the key findings of both reports. This presentation will include key insights from the regional comparative analysis and in-depth country analysis.
Deliverables Working days
Detailed scope of the assessment including methodology and timeline
10 days
In-depth country report 1 (TBD) including two missions
40 days
In-depth country report 2 (TBD) including two missions
40 days
In-depth country report 3 (TBD) including two missions - to be confirmed if a third case study will be included in this or a subsequent contract.
40 days
Regional comparative analysis
30 days
Presentation of both the regional comparative analysis and in-depth country analysis
5 days
Total
165 working days
Governance
The External Collaborator will work under the direct supervision of the Social Protection Technical Officer based in ILO-Riyadh, and technical oversight and strategic guidance of the Senior Social Protection Advisor and STREAM Programme Manager. For the in-depth country analysis specific to Qatar, the External Collaborator will also work under the technical supervision of the Technical Officer based in ILO-Doha.
The regional review report is expected to represent one of the deliverables of ILO collaboration with the Executive Bureau of Labour Ministers in the GCC.
The continuation of the contract for the second and third case study will be subject to successful completion of the first. For the purpose of evaluating proposals, it shall be assumed that the selected supplier will be awarded all three case studies.
Assignment duration and payment schedule
165 working days. From June 2025 to June 2026.
•First payment, 10% payable upon receipt of the detailed scope of the assessment including methodology and timeline, and responding to feedback received. (Deliverable 1), by 30 July 2025.
•Second payment, 20% payable upon receipt of the 1st in-depth country report, and responding to feedback received. (Deliverable 2), by 31 October 2025.
•Third payment, 20% payable upon receipt of the regional comparative analysis report, and responding to feedback received. (Deliverable 3), by 30 November 2025.
•Forth payment, 20% payable upon receipt of the 2nd in-depth country report, and responding to feedback received. (Deliverable 4), by 28 February 2026.
•Fifth payment, 20% payable upon receipt of the 3rd in-depth country report, and responding to feedback received. (Deliverable 5), by 31 May 2026.
•Final payment, 10% payable upon delivery of both the regional comparative analysis and in-depth country analysis. (Deliverable 6), by 30 June 2026.
Qualifications and Experience Required:
The External Collaborator is expected to have the following qualifications, experience and competencies:
•Advanced academic degree in the field of social policy, public administration, sociology, law, economics, actuarial science, international development, or another relevant field or combination of fields relevant to social insurance;
•Minimum of ten (10) years of professional experience in labour and social protection, in particular social insurance, and related reforms, research, policy design and implementation;
•Demonstrated expertise in employment injury benefit schemes. Professional experience in evaluating or advising on the design, implementation, and reform of these systems will be highly advantageous.
•Subject-matter expertise in migration issues is an asset.
•Proven experience in working with or advising governments, international organizations, social partners, and/or civil society on policy reforms related to social protection and labour rights, particularly in GCC countries or similar contexts.
•Experience working with migrant workers and understanding their specific vulnerabilities within labour markets and social protection systems is an asset.
•Ability to design and implement qualitative and quantitative research methodologies, including desk reviews, data analysis, stakeholder interviews, and focus group discussions.
•Knowledge and experience of international social security standards.
•Familiarity and exposure to rights-based approaches to social protection
•Proven experience and qualifications to undertake this type of assignment.
•Ability to work proactively while keeping ILO officials engaged and informed.
•Ability to conduct ad-hoc missions to the GCC, if necessary.
•Experience working in international contexts including in the Arab region is an asset.
•Excellent command of both written and spoken English. Arabic is an advantage.
Suppliers are invited to share the following documents by 13 June 2025 with the ILO social protection team in the GCC at [email protected]
-CV;
-A short technical proposal (maximum 5 pages)
-An example of previous work on a similar or related work;
-Financial proposal (Daily Rate)
Cumulative evaluation method will be used for this procurement exercise and contract will be awarded to the highest scorer in cumulative analysis considering Technical and Financial evaluation. The Technical proposal will contain 70% and financial proposal will contain 30% weight, whereas Technical Evaluation passing score is 70%. Any candidate that scores less than 70% in Technical Evaluation shall not be considered for financial evaluation. The maximum number of points assigned to the financial proposal is allocated to the lowest price proposal. All other financial proposals receive points in inverse proportion. The suggested formula is as follows:
p = y (x/z)
Where:
p = points for the financial proposal being evaluated
y = maximum number of points for the financial proposal
x = price of the lowest priced proposal
z = price of the proposal being evaluated
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