Junior Professional Officer in Labour Law

CONDITIONS OF ELIGIBILITY

1. General Requirements for candidates applying to the JPO Programme of the Republic of Korea:

a) Korean citizenship
b) Fluency in Korean and English
c) Completion of university with a Bachelor’s degree and a Master’s degree or equivalent
d) Certificate of English proficiency test: Applicants should score a minimum of (i) TOEFL iBT 100 or (ii) TEPS 430 or (iii) IELTS 7 or (iv) TOEIC 900
- TOEFL ‘Home Edition’ score is accepted while ‘My Best Scores’ are not accepted
- IELTS General Training and Academic test are both accepted
- Test scores are valid for 2 years after the test date
e) Not older than 32 years of age as of 31st December, 2026 (born after 1st January, 1994). The maximum age limit for those who served in the military will be extended accordingly: one year will be extended for those who served for less than one year; two years will be extended for those who served for more than one year and less than two years; three years will be extended for those who served for two years or more
f) Male applicants shall have completed the Korean military service or be exempted from it. Those who will be discharged from military service in the year of the application may also apply
g) Applicants can apply for a maximum of two JPO positions sponsored by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea during the year of application

2. Required Documents
a) A complete application and motivation letter in English
b) A scanned copy of applicant’s Resident Register in English, issued by the Korean Government
c) A copy of university degree (Bachelor’s/Master’s degree) certificate in English
d) A copy of English proficiency test certificate 
e) Scanned copies of Certificate of Employment, including information such as the period of employment, organization, department/unit, position/title, and duties/responsibilities, in English
Note: Applicants are required to submit supporting documents for all professional experience listed in the application. 
f) Only for male applicants who have completed the national military service: A certificate of Korean Military Service in English. The maximum age limit for those who served in the military will be extended in accordance with the Support for Discharged Soldiers Act and the Military Service Law
g) Only for low-income applicants: A scanned copy of a certificate of National Basic Livelihood Security Recipients issued in Korean and its unofficial translation in English
h) Only for persons with disability: A scanned copy of a certificate of person with disability issued in Korean and English

3. General Information:

For general information on the JPO Programme of the Republic of Korea, please visit the website of the International Organizations Recruitment Center, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea at https://unrecruit.mofa.go.kr [link removed]

Introduction

The position is part of the Employment Policy, Tripartite Governance and Specific Categories of Workers Unit (EMPGOV) within the International Labour Standards Department. This department is central to the ILO's mandate to establish and monitor international labour standards that promote rights at work, create decent employment opportunities, enhance social protection, and strengthen social dialogue among governments, employers, and workers' organizations.

The primary role of the position is to support the ILO's supervisory machinery, including the Committee of Experts on the Application of Conventions and Recommendations. Key duties involve analysing reports on the application of ILO standards, conducting legal research, drafting comparative analyses, supporting the ratification of ILO Conventions, and providing expert commentary on national labour laws and policies.

Duties and Responsabilities

The Junior Professional Officer's (JPO) primary responsibilities will be centred on the following key duties:

• Supporting the Committee of Experts (CEACR): Conducting legal research and preparing comparative analyses and draft documents for the CEACR as regards the set of international labour standards falling under the purview of the Unit, i.e. employment policy and services, vocational training, social policy, specific categories of workers and tripartite consultations.

• Providing Analytical Legal and Technical Inputs:
  - An important area of work will be to examine whether and how integrated employment policies and services recognize the need to ensure that economic growth translates into not just more jobs, but better jobs for all that full and decent employment is not an isolated outcome but rather a complex challenge requiring a coherent, holistic, and collaborative approach across all levels of policymaking and society. The work will also cover ILS related to tripartite consultations and specific categories of workers, such as domestic and home-based workers, particularly addressing their vulnerability and the impact of telework. This will also involve leveraging the application of ratified international labour standards to tackle the most persistent decent work challenges, especially for those workers who are often invisible within the informal economy, while also responding to the evolving nature of work.
 - Researching, analysing, and drafting responses to requests from ILO field offices and constituents for comments on draft legislation and policy related to ILO instruments. The JPO may also be asked to prepare briefing notes on specific thematics in selected member States.

• Analysing Government Reports and Observations from employer and worker organisations on the Application of Ratified Conventions (Articles 22 and 23 of the Constitution): Examining and analysing government reports on the application of ratified ILO Conventions. This analysis must consider recent developments in national policymaking and legal frameworks, the impact of new forms of work, challenges in the informal economy, and how macro-employment policies can facilitate the transition to the formal economy.

• Contributing to General Surveys (Article 19 of the Constitution): Analysing reports from governments, employers, and workers' organizations for the CEACR's forthcoming General Survey on the Termination of Employment Convention, 1982 (No. 158) and Recommendation (No. 166). The JPO will help compile, organize, and analyse the information received.

• Meeting and Event Support: Assisting with ILO events and meetings, such as the Governing Body and the International Labour Conference, by collaborating with colleagues on notetaking, preparing materials, drafting minutes, and providing comments for the EMPGOV team.

Training Component and Learning Elements

Training components:

Through the work in the area of employment policy and specific categories of workers get trained to develop expertise in policy coordination and integration.
Through guidance of the supervisor and senior colleagues get trained in working on complex policy issues from a legal perspective and in a multi-cultural environment through seminars, workshops and interaction with specialists the JPO will benefit from learning in the context of exposure to multiple policy areas.

Learning elements:

Become familiar with ILO’s institutional and informal coordination mechanisms, in particular as regards the implementation of ratified ILO standards:

• Become familiar with ILO’s mandate and with how the ILO supervisory machinery operate and how they are evolving.
  
• Interact with colleagues in the Standards Department, but also from the technical departments and the field offices working on areas pertinent to the standards under the purview of the Unit.
  
• Get acquainted with the work of a multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural team.

Required Qualifications and Experience

Education

Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in Law.

Work experience

At least two years of relevant experience in labour law, employment relations or human resources.

Work experience in the area of labour and employment law, policy coordination and coherence and interest in formalization strategies and the challenges related to securing decent work for domestic workers would be an advantage.

Languages

Excellent command of one working language of the ILO (English).

A working knowledge of a second working language of the ILO (French or Spanish) would be an asset.

Key competencies

The candidate is expected to demonstrate and be guided by ILO core competencies (Integrity and transparency, Sensitivity to diversity, Orientation to learning and knowledge sharing, Client orientation, Communication, Orientation to change, Takes responsibility for performance, Quality orientation, Collaboration).

In addition to the ILO core competencies, the following is required:

• Knowledge and technical/behavioural competencies
  
• Knowledge and understanding of theories, concepts and approaches relevant to the area of employment policy, formalization, policy coordination
  
• Knowledge of IT applications for information collection, management and dissemination
  
• Ability to use analytical tools and qualitative and quantitative research methods
  
• Ability to identify sources and develop methods for data collection
  
• Research and analytical skills
  
• Drafting skills
  
• Ability to adapt quickly to new IT software and systems
  
• Ability to maintain effective and collaborative working relationships
  
• Ability to prepare and deliver internal presentations and messages, using a range of techniques and technologies
  
• Ability to work effectively in a multicultural environment and to demonstrate and model gender-responsive, non-discriminatory and inclusive behaviour and attitudes

Recruitment Process

Application method:

Please note that all candidates must complete an on-line application form. To apply, please visit https://jobs.ilo.org/ [link removed].

Applicants must submit supporting documentation listed in their application by uploading a single PDF file (merged) via the cover letter section within the online application system.

Please submit all required documents by the application deadline, no extension will be allowed.

The expected entry on duty of the selected candidate will be November - December 2026.

The system provides instructions for online application procedures. Applicants will receive acknowledgement of receipt of their submission.

Fraud warning

The ILO does not charge any fee at any stage of the recruitment process whether at the application, interview, processing or training stage. Messages originating from a non ILO e-mail account - @ilo.org - should be disregarded. In addition, the ILO does not require or need to know any information relating to the bank account details of applicants.