What We Do
For a Better World
Decent work, with wages and conditions that enable us to live in dignity, is a basic human right. We can’t sit by while millions of people in our Asia-Pacific region are denied this right.
We are committed to supporting action by working people in neighbouring countries to build unions, provide skills training and take collective action that improves their lives. Together we will empower working people in our Asia-Pacific region to achieve a life free of poverty.
How We Work
We invest the money we raise into partner organisations in developing countries with the experience, courage and knowledge to build the collective power of vulnerable working people. Our partners identify their priorities and solutions and we support them through funding, advice and monitoring to ensure that projects deliver real change for working people.
Building Unions
Unions empower workers by giving them the collective strength to negotiate fair wages and working conditions, thereby enhancing their overall quality of life. Across Asia and the Pacific, we support union groups in their struggle for these rights. Our initiatives create links between unions and workers in Aotearoa New Zealand and other unions throughout our region.
Skills training
Skills training increases job opportunities and earning potential. Our projects support women, migrants and minorities to gain new vocational skills so they can get decent work and safely support themselves and their families.
Creating Cooperatives
Establishing local co-operatives enables small scale farmers, street vendors, cleaners and other groups of working people to collectively make and sell their products, improving their incomes and sustainability. We have supported Dalit and Tribal workers in India to form co-operatives, increasing their incomes and breaking dependency on money lenders, middle men and landlords.
Empowering workers
Participation in democratic, worker-led organisations empowers people whose work is not formally recognised to advocate for better pay, job security, and better prospects for themselves and their peers.
Shaping Young Leaders
With funding from the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT, we provide young community leaders from Myanmar, East Indonesia and Mindanao (southern Philippines) with the opportunity to learn about democracy, human rights, gender justice, Te Tiriti o Waitangi and community development.
Our Success 2021-22
We work with our partners to build grassroots movements for justice and decent work. Achieving real change is challenging work, but our projects directly improve the working and social conditions of thousands of working people across the Asia-Pacific region.
Stories from our partners
Bridging Educational Gaps: Empowering Dalit and Tribal Children in Tamil Nadu
Workers from Dalit and Tribal communities, who are part of unions and cooperatives established with the assistance of UnionAID and NZEI Te Riu Roa, hold great aspirations for their children’s
Thai Union Organiser Not Guilty!
UnionAID Aotearoa NZ/Rangsit Labour Union Group Thailand project co-coordinator Sriprai Nonsee found not guilty of sedition Rangsit Labour Union Group organiser Sriprai Nonsee has been found found not guilty of
New Project to Raise Wages for Thai Plasterboard Workers
A new UnionAID project will focus on preventing exploitation of migrant workers in Thailand who produce plasterboard now being sold very cheaply in Aotearoa-New Zealand. While Thai plasterboard will be