Life on Low Wages in Asia-Pacific

Conversations in Development

In the APAC region life for the majority in the paid workforce is hand-to-mouth, people earn wages that don't feed a family. Dr Mason speaks with Union Aid Abroad's (APHEDA) Executive Officer, Kate Lee about the major issues that workers face on a daily basis, including low wages; lack of workplace safety; and workplace and sexual harassment. We explore these key issues and discuss the action that the Government and consumers globally need to take to support and demand liveable and living wages in every country.

Kate Lee works for Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA, the global justice organisation of the Australian union movement, where she has been the Executive Officer since 2013.

Prior to Union Aid Abroad, Kate worked for Australian trade unions for 12 years, and before that, worked in women’s health, community health and social justice organisations in campaigning, organising, advocacy, policy and management roles.

In August 1988, following the crackdown on student activists by the Burmese military and the shooting of thousands of young people, Kate joined with others to spur on an Australian solidarity movement supporting Burmese democracy. She’s been campaigning for human rights and equality since.

Kate has a Master of Policy and Applied Social Research from Macquarie University. In 2002, she was awarded a Churchill Fellowship to investigate union and community organising in the US, Canada, UK and Europe.

This podcast is brought to you by Cufa, an international development agency alleviating poverty across the Asia Pacific .