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. 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 provide working people with the collective power to negotiate decent wages and conditions to improve their livelihoods. New Zealand's unions have fought for the working rights we benefit from, and men and women in developing countries deserve those same rights.
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 NZ Aid Programme, UnionAID has provided 122 young community leaders from Myanmar, East Indonesia and Mindanao (southern Philippines) with the unique opportunity to learn about democracy, human rights, gender justice, Te Tiriti o Waitangi and community development here in Aotearoa.
Our Success
For more than ten years we have worked with our partners to build grass roots movements for justice and decent work. Achieving real change is challenging work, but our projects have directly improved the working and social conditions of thousands of working people across the Asia-Pacific region.
Stories from our partners
Dalit Workers Gaining Freedom
Since 2011 the focus of our work in India with the Tamil Nadu Labour Union (TNLU) has been on establishing co-operatives with Dalit and Tribal
Social Media Attracts Young Union Activists
Social media has been a driving force attracting a new generation of younger workers into union activities in Thailand. One effective strategy the Rangsit and
Rangsit and Area Labour Union Activity Not Stopped by COVID-19
The lockdown in Thailand has not prevented union leaders from starting a new ambitious UnionAID funded project. Trialling a video link, they have run their