SASK ry - Suomen Ammattiliittojen Solidaarisuuskeskus

What SASK ry - Suomen Ammattiliittojen Solidaarisuuskeskus does

SASK ry - Suomen Ammattiliittojen Solidaarisuuskeskus is a Finnish non-governmental, non-profit solidarity center founded in 1986 and headquartered in Helsinki, with 11 employees. The organization strengthens trade union capacity and advances workers' rights and human rights at work in the Global South, delivering 23+ active development cooperation projects across Sub-Saharan Africa, Southeast Asia, South Asia, and Latin America under the 2026-2029 programme period. Its core service offerings are international development cooperation projects (Hankkeet), advocacy campaigns (Kampanjat), policy advocacy (Vaikuttaminen), educational training packages (Koulutuspaketit), podcasts, and research publications (Materiaalit), distributed through global union federation partners including BWI, Education International, IndustriAll, PSI, ITF, UNI, IUF, and ITUC.

SASK's revenue model is dominated by official development assistance from Finland's Ministry for Foreign Affairs (Ulkoministeriö) through multi-year programme support, with secondary co-financing from Finnish trade union confederations SAK, STTK, and Akava and their member unions, plus individual donations, supporter memberships (kannatusjäsenyys), and a 2022-issued fundraising permit (RA/2021/1601). SASK does not develop proprietary technology; its digital footprint is a WordPress website, standard social media channels, newsletter, and podcast hosting. The organization is institutionally embedded in the Finnish trade union movement, which both anchors its political legitimacy and amplifies concentration on a single public funding principal.

The organization is currently in a material financial contraction. In December 2025, Minister Tavio cut SASK's 2026-2029 programme support by more than €6.4 million relative to expert recommendations, prompting SASK to file an internal appeal, an administrative court complaint (28 April 2026), and a complaint to the Chancellor of Justice. Change negotiations initiated in January 2026 concluded on 17 February 2026 with three employment relationships ending, against a stated reduction need of up to five person-years. Despite this, SASK continues active field operations, evidenced by a 30 April 2026 Indonesian domestic workers' protection law entering into force.

Name

SASK ry - Suomen Ammattiliittojen Solidaarisuuskeskus

Legal name

Suomen Ammattiliittojen Solidaarisuuskeskus SASK ry

Website

https://sask.fi

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

SASK ry is a Finnish non-profit trade union solidarity center founded in 1986 that strengthens workers' rights and trade union capacity in 23+ Global South countries through development cooperation projects, training, research, and policy advocacy, funded primarily by Finland's Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Finnish trade union confederations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International Development Cooperation (Labor Rights NGO)

NAICS

Business Associations (813910), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Human Rights Organizations (813311)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Institutional Capacity Building & Training (Workforce/Systems Strengthening) (BPADAEAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Technical Cooperation, Capacity Building & Policy Advisory Programs (BPADABAO), Education Systems & Skills Technical Assistance (BPADAEAI)

Keywords

• Trade union solidarity
• Workers rights advocacy
• Development cooperation
• Labor rights NGO
• Global union partnerships

Headquarters

HQ city

Helsinki

HQ country

Finland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Government programme funding (Ulkoministeriö): SASK receives the majority of its funding from Finland's Ministry for Foreign Affairs (Ulkoministeriö) through official development cooperation programme support. This funding covers multi-year periods (e.g., 2026-2029). In December 2025, the Ministry made a funding decision reducing SASK's allocation by over 6.4 million euros, which SASK contested through an internal appeal and subsequently filed an administrative court complaint against. The organization also filed a complaint with the Chancellor of Justice.
2. Membership and supporter contributions (kannatusjäsenyys, lahjoitukset): SASK raises funds through individual donations (lahjoitukset), supporter memberships (kannatusjäsenyys), and general public fundraising. It holds a fundraising permit (RA/2021/1601) valid from 1 January 2022. Donations can be made to bank account FI54 5541 2810 000 84.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels13 records

Core offering

SASK ry is a Finnish non-governmental solidarity centre that funds, designs, and implements international development cooperation projects to strengthen trade unions and workers' rights organizations in the Global South. Its core deliverables include capacity-building projects across more than 23 countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America, policy advocacy for EU and Finnish corporate accountability legislation, training materials and educational packages, research publications, and a solidarity programme supported by Finnish trade unions and the Ministry for Foreign Affairs.

Product overview

SASK ry - Suomen Ammattiliittojen Solidaarisuuskeskus (Finnish Trade Unions' Solidarity Centre) operates as a labor rights NGO rather than a traditional SaaS company. Its core offering consists of international development cooperation projects that strengthen trade unions and worker rights in the Global South, supplemented by advocacy campaigns, educational training packages, podcasts, and publications. Projects span multiple sectors including construction, mining, education, health, transport, agriculture, and service industries, with partner unions in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. The organization also conducts policy advocacy and produces research materials on labor rights and corporate responsibility.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Development Cooperation Projects (Hankkeet) Multi-year international development cooperation projects that strengthen trade union capacity and workers' rights in Global South countries. Activities include training, research, organizing support, and policy advocacy across construction, mining, education, health, transport, agriculture, and service sectors. Funded primarily by the Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs and co-financed by Finnish trade unions.
• Influence and Advocacy (Vaikuttaminen)

Quantifiable outcome

• Achieved domestic worker protection law in Indonesia (April 2026), a historic breakthrough recognizing domestic workers as formal workers for the first time.
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Building and Wood Workers' International (BWI)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026SASK partners with BWI in construction and wood sector union capacity building projects. In the 2026-2029 programme period, projects include strengthening unions in Indonesia's construction and wood sector, and Zambia's construction, wood and forestry sector. Finnish co-funders include Rakennusliitto (Construction Union).
• Education International (EI)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026SASK partners with Education International in education sector union projects in Latin America (Brazil, Colombia) and Asia-Pacific (Philippines, Nepal). Projects focus on strengthening teachers' unions, women's leadership, and quality education. Finnish co-funder: Opetusalan Ammattijärjestö OAJ.
• IndustriAll Global UnioncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026SASK partners with IndustriAll in industry, mining and metal sector projects in Southern Africa (Eswatini, Namibia, Zambia) and Brazil. Projects address decent work, just transition, and workers' rights. Finnish co-funders: Teollisuusliitto, Insinööriliitto.
• Public Services International (PSI)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026SASK partners with PSI in public sector union projects covering South Africa, Zambia, Brazil, Colombia, Nepal, and Southeast Asia (Indonesia, Philippines). Focus areas include equality, occupational safety, health and social care workers' rights. Finnish co-funders: JHL, Tehy, Ammattiliitto Pro, Jyty.
• International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026SASK partners with ITF in transport sector union projects in Indonesia and across Africa (Eswatini, Côte d'Ivoire, Zambia). Projects strengthen transport workers' rights, organizing, and collective bargaining. Finnish co-funders: AKT, RAU, PAU, ERTO.
• UNI Global UnioncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026SASK partners with UNI in private services sector projects in Ghana, Côte d'Ivoire, Nepal, Brazil, and Colombia. Focus areas include collective bargaining power, gender equality, workers' rights in retail and commerce. Finnish co-funders: PAM, Ammattiliitto Pro.
• International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026SASK partners with ITUC in a project supporting African trade unions' engagement with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). The project spans Ghana, Kenya, Namibia, South Africa, and Zambia. Finnish co-funders: AKT, IL, JHL, OAJ, PAM, Pro, SAK, STTK, Teollisuusliitto.
• IUF (International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers' Associations)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026SASK partners with IUF in South Africa's wine industry project and in LGBTI+ workers' rights projects covering Colombia, South Africa, and the Philippines. Finnish co-funder: Palvelualojen ammattiliitto PAM.
• Global Labour University / University of WitwatersrandcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Global Labour University, in partnership with the University of Witwatersrand in South Africa, provides academic training courses for trade union activists from the Global South. The programme strengthens unions' analytical capacity on labour rights, policy, and just transition. Finnish co-funder: OAJ.
• SENTRO (Sentro ng mga Nagkakaisa at Progresibong Manggagawa)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Philippines-based national trade union centre partner in SASK's food and beverage industry project, collaborating with IndustriAll. Finnish co-funder: Pohjoismainen elintarvikealan työntekijöiden liitto.
• Zambia Institute of Labour Research and Development (ZILARD)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026ZILARD serves as research partner in Zambia, supporting SASK's disability rights in the workplace project alongside Zambia Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU).

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Norwegian People's Aid (Norsk Folkehjelp): Norwegian labour-affiliated organization running international development cooperation projects including workers' rights programming. Comparable Nordic funding architecture and trade union movement backing.
• Solidar: European network of civil society and trade union organizations for international solidarity and workers' rights. Peer in terms of advocacy and project delivery with EU-level policy influence on corporate accountability and workers' rights.
• Ulandssekretariatet (Danish Trade Union Development Agency): Danish trade union-funded development cooperation agency supporting trade union partners in developing countries. Directly comparable mandate, similar project-based funding model from Danish MFA, and parallel geographic and sectoral footprint.
• FNV Mondiaal: Dutch trade union solidarity organization running international projects on decent work, labour rights, and union strengthening in the Global South. Comparable structure as a national union confederation-affiliated solidarity platform.
• Union to Union: Swedish trade union solidarity centre channeling Swedish unions' international development cooperation with workers' rights partners in the Global South. Closest functional peer to SASK: same mandate, similar Nordic funding model, comparable partnership architecture with global union federations.

Broad incumbents

• International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC): Global trade union confederation representing workers' interests internationally and a direct partner of SASK. Operates at a higher (global) level but with overlapping mandate on workers' rights, development cooperation, and policy advocacy.
• ILO ACTRAV (Bureau for Workers' Activities): ILO bureau supporting workers' organizations globally through training, capacity building, and policy. SASK partners with ACTRAV-aligned unions and shares the capacity-building mandate, though ACTRAV operates from within the UN system.

Others

• Finnish Institute of International Affairs (FIIA): Finnish policy research institute engaged on international affairs and development policy. Adjacent as a Finnish policy and research institution with overlapping networks in MFA-funded development research, though not a direct operational peer.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xbsky.app/profile/sask.fi
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@suomenammattiliittojensoli424/videos
• Facebookfacebook.com/SASK.fi
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sask
• Instagraminstagram.com/saskfi

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about SASK ry - Suomen Ammattiliittojen Solidaarisuuskeskus