Focusrite
Lacks transparency. Publishes some details, but doesn't show its workers are paid and treated fairly.
Last researched 3 November 2026 · 5 sources
UK music tech brand known for Scarlett audio interfaces.
There's no proof Focusrite pays more than the legal minimum, which in China and Malaysia is below a living wage, and it has no full independent audit.
Other TV and audio brands
Nothing we've rated in TV and audio is better than Lacks transparency yet.
Know something we've missed? Send evidence. Represent Focusrite? Send a right of reply.
Compare Focusrite with another brand
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, unaudited production in high-risk countries and untraced high-risk mined materials. 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 Malaysia, 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: Traces its cobalt, gold and other conflict minerals to the mine
Red flags 3
- Red flag: No evidence it pays a living wage
- Red flag: Made mostly in countries with poor worker rights, without a full independent audit of its supply chain
- Red flag: Relies on high-risk mined materials it can't traceShown to explain the grade. It isn't one of the 2 red flags that set it.
- Red flag: Fails its category's raw-material check (means Lacks transparency)
Stars it would earn as Good
None yet. Stars only show on Good companies. About stars
Where it's made
Focusrite names some of the countries it makes in: China and Malaysia. The rest is shown as where electronics are usually made.
| Country | Worker rights | Legal minimum wage | Forced labour risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| China | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Moderate |
| Malaysia | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Moderate |
| VietnamUsual for the industry | Systematic violations | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
| TaiwanUsual for the industry | Strong protections | Close to a living wage | Low |
| South KoreaUsual for the industry | No guarantee of rights | Close to a living wage | Low |
| IndiaUsual for the industry | No guarantee of rights | Well below a living wage | High |
Evidence
What we found
- Risk across the industry, not a finding about this company: cobalt, tin, tantalum, tungsten and gold mining carry child and forced labour risk (DR Congo, Indonesia), and assembly overtime is widespread.
- Modern slavery statement
- Relies on metals such as cobalt, gold and tin from artisanal mines where miners, including children, face toxic dust, mercury exposure and deadly tunnel collapses. It hasn't shown any steps to trace these materials to the mine, so it's graded Lacks transparency until it does.
Research notes All Focusrite-brand products are made by contract manufacturers; the group says its key manufacturing partners are mainly in China and Malaysia, without shares by country. The largest Focusrite-brand manufacturer holds SA8000. The group's UK modern slavery statement reports supplier questionnaires (96 of 125 returned) and staff site visits finding no signs of bonded labour, but no independent audits, supplier list, conflict minerals report or RBA membership.
What independent sources say
| Source | Result | Details |
|---|---|---|
| UK Modern Slavery Statement Registry | Listed | Focusrite plc publishes an annual UK Modern Slavery Act statement; the 2026 statement covers the 18 months to 28 February 2026. View |
| KnowTheChain | Not covered | Not assessed in the 2025 KnowTheChain ICT benchmark, which covers larger ICT companies. View |
Sources and actions
Sources 5
Show all 5 sources
- Focusrite Scarlett Solo Gen 4 (Mannys) · search the archive · Focusrite interfaces sold by Mannys music stores in Australia
Published by Focusrite or its owner
- Focusrite Group Anti Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking Statement 2026 · search the archive · Focusrite brand 100% contract-made; partners mainly in China and Malaysia; largest maker SA8000; 96 of 125 questionnaires returned; ~600 staff
- Focusrite Group Anti Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking Statement 2025 · search the archive · Site visits found no bonded labour; workers reported regular wages; no third-party audits mentioned
- Focusrite plc HY25 Interim Statement · search the archive · Contract manufacturers in China, Malaysia, UK and US; some ranges being moved out of China because of US tariffs
- FOCUSRITE PLC modern slavery statement summary (UK registry, 2025) · search the archive · Focusrite plc files statements on the UK modern slavery statement registry
Company details
- Owned by
- Focusrite plc (AIM: TUNE)
- Headquarters
- United Kingdom
- Employees
- About 600
- Last researched
- 3 November 2026
- Cite this page
- Labour Lens, "Is Focusrite ethical? Labour rating", https://www.labourlens.net/brand/focusrite, last researched 3 November 2026, accessed [date].
- Method
- Researched with AI assistance against published rules. How we check · What Lacks transparency 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 Focusrite.