Aboriginal people in Australia have a history of being exploited as workers since the first years of colonisation. This ranged from being made to work for only food and tobacco to having their wages kept by governments - now known as the Stolen Wages.

Currently over 30,000 indigenous workers, mainly from remote communities, are being forced to work in a state sponsored programme called Community Development Program (CDP) for around 60% of the minimum wage with no rights to leave, OHS or legal protection.

We talk to Lara Watson, the Indigenous Officer at the Australian Council of Trade Unions, about their new initiative to organise and support these workers via the creation of the First Nations Workers Alliance.

Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia.