International development secretary Hilary Benn attended the launch event at UNISON's London office, along with the union's general secretary Dave Prentis, trade union representatives, MPs and leading charity figures.

"UNISON is not just about helping and representing workers in the UK" said Prentis.  "We can also play an important role in helping to end poverty and terrible working conditions aboard.

"Unions do much more than help workers out of poverty by demanding decent wages", he added.  "They also enable workers to share their expertise on difficult issues, such as the treatment of HIV/AIDS and to campaign against common threats such as racism, human rights abuses and privatisation."

The fund has already made several grants, to projects aimed at organising free trade unions in Burma, providing legal advice to Palestinians working in Israel and developing the capacity of trade unions working in the public service in Malawi.

The UIDF is aimed primarily at projects for public sector workers ans unions, implemented outside the UK.  It is open to both trade unions and non-governmental organisations.