Labour Lens

ASKO

Good

Good. Shows the people who make its products are paid and treated fairly.

Last researched 2 November 2026 · 7 sources

Scandinavian premium appliance brand: dishwashers, laundry and ovens.

ASKO makes its premium dishwashers and laundry appliances in its own factories in Slovenia and Serbia.

Also worth knowing

Those factories are SA8000 certified, with independent audits that include a living wage requirement.

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Why it's graded Good

How grades are decided

Goes Above and Beyond: 3 stars
StarAwarded forStatus
Open supply chainEarned
Pays above a living wageNot earned
Gives workers a real voiceNot earned
Finds and fixes problems, or invests in communitiesNot earned

3 stars for the first way it goes above and beyond, and one more for each further way, up to 6. About stars


Good requirements 6 of 6

  • Met: Pays a living wage, or holds a strong fair-pay certificationLiving wage: proven (SA8000)
  • Met: Respects worker rights
  • Met: Supply chain independently audited or certified, or at least 80% made in countries with strong labour standards
  • Met: No child or forced labour findings or links
  • Met: Names the factories or farms that make its products, or is fully certified by a scheme that holds and audits that listMakes its products in its own factories
  • Met: High-risk raw materials (such as timber and cotton) traced or certified, or not a major part of its rangeNone recorded in a major share of its range

Red flags 0

None found.

Where it's made

From ASKO's own disclosure: it makes its products in its own factories.

Where it's made, and conditions there
CountryWorker rightsLegal minimum wageForced labour risk
SloveniaStrong protectionsNot ratedModerate
SerbiaSystematic violationsNot ratedModerate

Evidence

What we found

  • No high-risk raw materials (such as timber and cotton) are recorded in a major share of its range, so the raw-material check doesn't hold it back for Good.
  • Owns or runs its own production
  • Independent social audits of all its main factories

Research notes ASKO moved all manufacturing from Sweden to Gorenje's own factories in Slovenia in 2013: washers, dryers and dishwashers are made in Velenje, and fridges at Gorenje's Valjevo plants in Serbia; no shares are published. In 2025 these Gorenje sites gained SA8000 social certification, which includes independent audits and a living wage requirement, and Hisense Europe began reviewing key suppliers. No supplier list, audit results or Australian modern slavery statement for ASKO is published.

What independent sources say

SourceResultDetails
Australian Modern Slavery RegisterUnclearHisense Australia's modern slavery statement covers only Hisense Australia Pty Ltd and does not mention ASKO; no separate ASKO statement is identified. View
Baptist World Aid Ethical Fashion ReportNot coveredNot rated in Baptist World Aid's Electronics Industry Report, which ended in 2016; parent Hisense was graded F in that 2016 edition. View

Sources and actions

Sources 7

Show all 7 sources
  1. Asko washing machines and dryers already produced at Gorenje's Velenje plant (2013) · search the archive · ASKO washers and dryers made at Gorenje's Velenje plant from 2013
  2. Hisense building new factory in Serbia (Slovenia Times) · search the archive · Valjevo plants make Hisense, Gorenje and Asko fridges
  3. Gorenje confirms high level of employee protection with international SA8000 certificate (Hisense Europe, 2025) · search the archive · Gorenje, Mora Moravia and Gorenje Valjevo obtained SA8000 certification
  4. ASKO 82cm Classic Built-in Dishwasher (Harvey Norman) · search the archive · ASKO dishwashers sold by Harvey Norman stores in Australia
  5. Slovenia Times: Gorenje wants to move Asko production from Sweden to Slovenia · search the archive · Asko washers/dryers to move from Vara to Velenje from April 2013, dishwashers from September 2013

Published by ASKO or its owner

  1. Hisense Europe Sustainability Report 2024 · search the archive · First systematic supplier sustainability due diligence reviews
  2. Hisense Australia Modern Slavery Statement 2023 · search the archive · Covers only Hisense Australia Pty Ltd; no mention of ASKO

Company details

Headquarters
Sweden
Last researched
2 November 2026
Cite this page
Labour Lens, "Is ASKO ethical? Labour rating", https://www.labourlens.net/brand/asko, last researched 2 November 2026, accessed [date].
Method
Researched with AI assistance against published rules. How we check · What Good means

Something missing or wrong?

Grades are opinions based on the evidence listed here. Send us evidence, or a right of reply if you represent ASKO.