Betts
Lacks transparency. Publishes some details, but doesn't show its workers are paid and treated fairly.
Last researched 2 November 2026 · 6 sources
Family-owned Australian footwear retailer selling its own shoes.
Betts was graded D in the 2019 Ethical Fashion Report, and there's no proof it pays more than the legal minimum, which in China is below a living wage.
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Why it's graded Lacks transparency
- Not met: Meets 1 of 6 Good requirements.
- Holds the grade back: It has 3 red flags: no evidence of a living wage, a hidden, unaudited supply chain in high-risk countries and a failing or very low rating (Ethical Fashion Report grade D in 2019). Two or more red flags means a poor grade.
- It isn't Harm on record, because there's no serious confirmed problem on its record.
- Lacks transparency is still a poor grade: in supply chains like this, workers who can't be seen to be treated fairly are usually underpaid or unprotected.
Good requirements 1 of 6
- Not met: Pays a living wage, or holds a strong fair-pay certificationLiving wage: no evidence
- Not met: Respects worker rightsMost of its products are made in countries such as China and Bangladesh, where unions are heavily restricted, and it has no full supply chain audit.
- Not 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
- Not met: Names the factories or farms that make its products, or is fully certified by a scheme that holds and audits that list
- Not met: High-risk raw materials (leather) traced or certified, or not a major part of its rangeNot traced or certified: leather
Red flags 3
- Red flag: No evidence it pays a living wage
- Red flag: Hidden supply chain, mostly in countries with poor worker rights
- Red flag: Failing or very low score on an independent rating: Ethical Fashion Report grade D (2019)
Stars it would earn as Good
None yet. Stars only show on Good companies. About stars
Where it's made
Betts names some of the countries it makes in: China. The rest is shown as where clothes and shoes are usually made.
| Country | Worker rights | Legal minimum wage | Forced labour risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| China | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Moderate |
| BangladeshUsual for the industry | No guarantee of rights | Far below a living wage | Moderate |
| VietnamUsual for the industry | Systematic violations | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
| IndiaUsual for the industry | No guarantee of rights | Well below a living wage | High |
| CambodiaUsual for the industry | No guarantee of rights | Far below a living wage | Moderate |
| TürkiyeUsual for the industry | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Very high |
| IndonesiaUsual for the industry | No guarantee of rights | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
| PakistanUsual for the industry | No guarantee of rights | Far below a living wage | High |
Evidence
What we found
- Uses little or no cotton (e.g. wool, linen or leather products)
- Doesn't show where its leather comes from. Leather is linked to hazardous tannery work and forced labour on some cattle ranches, so it can't be graded Good until it traces or certifies it.
Research notes Betts designs its own shoes in Australia and sources them from manufacturers in China, using a wholly owned sourcing subsidiary, Oceanic Brands, in Houjie, Guangdong, but publishes no factory list or production shares. Its sustainability page bans forced and child labour and asks suppliers to take part in independent audits such as amfori BSCI, but no audit results, modern slavery statement or living wage commitment were found. It is not in the 2026 Ethical Fashion Report; it was graded D in 2019. Betts went into voluntary administration in mid-2026 and closed 20 of its 35 stores.
What independent sources say
| Source | Result | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Baptist World Aid Ethical Fashion Report | Problem found | Not in the 2026 Ethical Fashion Report; Betts Group was graded D in 2019, after an F in 2017 for not responding to the research. View |
Sources and actions
Sources 6
Show all 6 sources
- Betts Group - Good Shopping Guide (ethical.org.au) · search the archive · Graded D in the 2019 Ethical Fashion Report; no 2022-2026 Ethical Fashion Report score listed; brands Betts, Airflex and Zu
- Why Betts was publicly shamed (Ragtrader) · search the archive · Graded F in the 2017 Ethical Fashion Report for not responding to the research
- Betts to close 20 of 35 stores as part of an online pivot (The Nightly) · search the archive · Betts entered voluntary administration in June 2026 and is closing 20 of 35 stores to move online
- Betts Group - Wikipedia · search the archive · Family-owned, HQ Osborne Park WA
Published by Betts or its owner
- Sustainability - Betts · search the archive · Oceanic Brands sourcing policy; owned subsidiary in Houjie, China; suppliers asked to join audits such as BSCI; bans forced and child labour
- LACED INTO LINEAGE - Betts · search the archive · Founded 1892 in Perth; still family-owned; every shoe is Australian-designed
Company details
- Headquarters
- Australia
- Last researched
- 2 November 2026
- Cite this page
- Labour Lens, "Is Betts ethical? Labour rating", https://www.labourlens.net/brand/betts, last researched 2 November 2026, accessed [date].
- Method
- Researched with AI assistance against published rules. How we check · What Lacks transparency means
Better-graded footwear
Second-hand and refurbished goods create no new factory work, so they're Good by rule and come first.
Something missing or wrong?
Grades are opinions based on the evidence listed here. Send us evidence, or a right of reply if you represent Betts.