Forced labour is a solvable world problem.
We make strategic investments to disrupt inefficient and exploitative labour migration markets and eliminate conditions of forced labour.
What we do
There's no shortage of employers willing to pay for ethical recruitment of migrant workers. The market is waiting.
We help local entrepreneurs fill this demand by providing flexible investment funding to local entrepreneurs, so they can build impactful recruitment businesses in their own markets.
We then mentor and advise our entrepreneurs so they can maximize their scale and impact.
Our Story
Debt bondage to recruitment agencies is a primary cause of forced labour. We saw a broken system and knew we could do better.
Our team launched the Fair Employment Agency in 2014, setting a new and ethical standard for migrant recruitment. We've seen its disruptive impact on the market in Hong Kong: employers are getting better service, workers are paying less and retention rates are up.
We wanted to create a similar impact in other markets. So we launched Honest Jobs, to maximize our expertise (and funds) to build a new category of recruitment agencies, who will set new standards for migrant recruitment globally.
Portfolio
ENABLING LOCAL ENTREPRENEURS
Working with local entrepreneurs is key to our approach. They are better prepared to navigate their own market landscape and effectively engage stakeholders. These are our partners in leading industry-wide change.
“Pinkcollar launched its services with a tried-and-tested recruitment strategy that we felt confident with, thanks to our mentor, Honest Job's guidance. Honest Jobs has helped us set up a strong end-to-end recruitment pipeline that is ethical and responsible.,”
- Zenna Law, Co-Founder of
Pinkcollar Employment Agency
Areas of focus
RECRUITMENT AGENCIES
TRAINING
Our experience has shown that the most disruptive intervention is at the employment agency stage(s). Agencies work directly with migrants while also working deeply with employers, training centres and governments. Establishing ethical migrant recruitment agencies is our top priority.
TRAINING
Migrant focused training, designed to help prepare them for the entire migration process, is an essential part of improving the outcomes for migrant workers. We believe there are many opportunities to be explored with training, and employers would be willing to pay for it.
TECHNOLOGY
We do not anticipate investing in technology. But, we see opportunities to be subject matter experts for those who are developing tools to protect migrant workers.
What we're looking for:
MISSION ALIGNED
We exist to eliminate the situations of forced labour of migrant workers. While we understand the pressures of running a business, we need to have confidence in an investee’s alignment with our mission and approach.
REALITY-BASED
Our entrepreneurs need to feel an urgency to solve their business’ challenges while having the patience and discipline to build solutions out over the long term.
They must have an appreciation
of market principles and be focused on deeply understanding the industry.
MARKET FOCUSED
We need entrepreneurs who are dedicated to transforming the market. Financial success is an essential part of disruption, as it proves the economic case for ethical recruitment. Initially, we are most focused on the social returns associated with growing the ethical recruitment market. We expect financial returns to come with the sustained success of our portfolio companies.
Fair Employment Foundation contributes expertise and industry knowledge to inform our approach. The Hong Kong-based NGO builds market solutions to end the forced labour of migrant workers.
Supported by
Macquarie Group Foundation is committed to improving migration outcomes across Asia. They are a programmatic funder enabling us to launch Honest Jobs and make impactful investments into ethical entrepreneurs.
Our anchor funder, Working Capital Fund invests in scalable innovations that address corporate demand for more transparent and ethical supply chains. A long-standing supporter, they have helped shape Honest Jobs to where we are today.
