RFP: Strengthening Labour Market Policies in Malaysia via Identification of Employers’ Needs and Job Seekers Aspirations to Support Local Workforce into Employment

Introduction

The Ministry of Human Resources (MoHR) Strategic Plan 2021-2025 aims to strengthen the national labour market and the national employment policies through the optimization of the Malaysian workforce, especially in sectors that dominated by foreign workers. Hence, the MOHR with International Labour Organization (ILO) through a development cooperation currently conducting a Feasibility Study on Policy Measures to Support the Local Workforce into Employment.

As part of strengthening Malaysian labour market, the ILO is seeking an experienced survey research firm in Malaysia to conduct a study using focus group discussions method on the topic “Employers’ needs and Job Seekers Aspirations in the context of Labor Market in Malaysia.” The qualitative study aims to analyze the mechanisms underlying imbalances in the Malaysian labor market. The core study design will employ qualitative approach by using focus group discussions at field level. However, the quantitative data is still required to support the fact finding from the field survey and shall be derived from existing/available national/international databases. Therefore, the study shall conduct both qualitative and quantitative design to ensure consistency through evidence-based analysis.

Objectives of the Study

The main objective of the study is to understand factors that shape the employers’ needs in recruiting potential employees and jobseeker's strategy in seeking employment, including filtering of available job vacancies, and factors that determine whether a job offer is accepted or rejected, it addresses three interrelated questions:

(i) What are determining factors from job seekers towards the labor market can be identified or confirmed through qualitative research?
(ii) What are the needs of employers’ in employing job seekers?
(iii) Do the employers’ seeking on particular set of skills/qualification/experience that are being required to be employed or any other criteria?
(iv) How are labor market disparities related to indicators like wages, employment benefits, educational background, age, readiness etc. and what are structural or other underlying reasons?
(v) Are current efforts by employers and government policies effective in addressing imbalances of national labour market and how can they be improved?

To answer these questions, an explorative and open-minded qualitative design will be pursued through the use of focus group discussions. The applicant firm is expected to undertake all related activities, in particular field mobilization, data collection, and data entry and quality control.

Scope of Work

The applicant firm is expected to prepare, implement and document 30 focus group discussions with a minimum of six participants and a maximum of nine participants each. For each focus group discussion, the applicant firm is expected to deploy one moderator to lead the group discussion and one recorder / secretary to log the discussion word-for-word and to assist the moderator. Focus group discussions are also to be recorded electronically and documented through infographics. Video recording will not be necessary.

See Table 1 (in the pdf attached) for a prospective timeline and a detailed list of tasks that are to be performed during field mobilization, data collection, and data entry and quality control. Note that data collection and data entry and quality control are not to be performed consecutively. Instead, data entry and quality control are to begin right after the completion of the first focus groups.

Material gathered during focus group discussions should be transcribed and translated into English (if applicable) immediately following the focus group and submitted to the ILO within one week. It will be used to provide guidance to the applicant firm concerning their methodological

Technical Proposal
As part of the technical and financial proposal, the applicant firm will be required to provide the following information:
(i) A summary of the relevant experience of the applicant firm. The summary should show that the applicant firm has extensive experience in preparing, implementing and documenting qualitative research, especially focus groups, in line with best practices and paradigms of qualitative research.
a) The applicant firm must at least proven have been providing consultancy/advisory/research services for 5 years.
b) The applicant firm need to demonstrate its proven experience on the ability to conduct qualitative assessment at field level.
c) The applicant firm must be familiar with approaches on methodology and field assessment for social sciences assessment.
d) The application needs to be accompanied with sample of unedited reporting data and analysis to prove the firm’s experience.
(ii) A brief description of a proposed strategy for the implementation of the different focus groups including with regard to a preliminary strategy for acquiring participants, the planned geographic coverage and any monetary or non-monetary incentives as well as refreshments that are to be provided to participants.
(iii) A capacity statement for hiring and training sufficient numbers of personnel to complete all tasks.
(iv) Resumes for key technical personnel expected to be involved in the project.
(v) Key technical personnel should include the project manager who should demonstrate extensive experience in supervising qualitative research, especially focus groups. Moderators are also to be seen as key technical personnel. They are expected to be professionals with at least certificate/diploma level higher education and their resumes should show that they have extensive experience in conducting qualitative research, especially focus groups, with participants from various backgrounds and with various attitudes and attributes.
a) The lead consultant of the applicant firm must demonstrate with expertise on labour economics / labour market / supply and demand of labour.
b) The team must consist of experience consultant/researcher in qualitative design study.
c) The team must consist of experience consultant/researcher in conducting focus group discussion with variety of participants’ background attribute, age, profession & etc.
d) The team must consist of experience consultant/researcher in approaching field assessment.
e) The team must consist of consultant/researcher with at least bachelor background and postgraduate degree is an advantage.
(vi) Fluency in English and Bahasa Melayu is also required.

Financial Proposal
A detailed budget covering all aspects related to field mobilization, data collection, and data entry, and quality control (e.g. transportation and travel costs, costs of incentives and refreshments for participants, …). 

Submission of Technical & Financial Proposal
Technical and Financial Proposals shall be sent separately: 
1. Email subject For Technical Proposal- The email’s subject shall be indicated as follows: 01-TP ILO-SOCSO
2. Email subject For Financial Proposal- The email’s subject shall be indicated as follows: 01-FP ILO-SOCSO
3. Both proposals shall be received by the administrator through the abovementioned email before 5.00 pm on 4th August 2023.

Interested firms may submit the above documents electronically to ilokloffice@ilo.org by 4th August 2023 before 5pm Kuala Lumpur time and only short-listed firms will be contacted. For more details on the assignment, kindly refer to the attached attachment.