Hilti
Lacks transparency. Publishes some details, but doesn't show its workers are paid and treated fairly.
Last researched 3 November 2026 · 6 sources
Liechtenstein maker of professional power tools and fixings.
There's no proof Hilti pays more than the legal minimum, which in China is below a living wage, and it has no full independent audit.
Know something we've missed? Send evidence. Represent Hilti? Send a right of reply.
Compare Hilti with another brand
Why it's graded Lacks transparency
- Not met: Meets 3 of 6 Good requirements.
- Holds the grade back: It doesn't show that workers are paid a living wage, and isn't certified as working towards one. On Track needs at least one of these.
- 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 3 of 6
- Not met: Pays a living wage, or holds a strong fair-pay certificationLiving wage: no evidence
- Not met: Respects worker rights28% of its products are made in countries such as China and India, 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
- 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 2
- Red flag: No evidence it pays a living wage
- Red flag: Made partly in countries with poor worker rights, without a full independent audit of its supply chain
Stars it would earn as Good
None yet. Stars only show on Good companies. About stars
Where it's made
From Hilti's own disclosure: it makes its products in its own factories. Its list covers only part of its range. The rest is shown as where homewares and appliances are usually made.
| Country | Share | Worker rights | Legal minimum wage | Forced labour risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| China | 19% | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Moderate |
| Austria | 18% | Strong protections | About a living wage | Low |
| Germany | 18% | Strong protections | About a living wage | Low |
| India | 9% | No guarantee of rights | Well below a living wage | High |
| Hungary | 9% | Systematic violations | Close to a living wage | Moderate |
| Mexico | 9% | Regular violations | Below a living wage | Moderate |
| United States | 9% | Systematic violations | Below a living wage | Low |
| VietnamUsual for the industry | under 1% | Systematic violations | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
| PolandUsual for the industry | under 1% | Regular violations | Close to a living wage | Moderate |
| IndonesiaUsual for the industry | under 1% | No guarantee of rights | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
| MalaysiaUsual for the industry | under 1% | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Moderate |
| Liechtenstein | 9% | We don't have labour ratings for this country yet. | ||
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
- Modern slavery statement
- Uses higher-risk raw materials such as leather that aren't traced to the farm. This is noted as a risk but doesn't decide the grade.
Research notes Hilti makes its tools and consumables in its own plants in Liechtenstein, Austria, Germany, Hungary, Mexico, China (light power tools in Shanghai), the US and India, buying from about 820 core suppliers, 28% of them in Asia/Pacific. Its modern slavery statements report over 180 supplier audits since 2020, with some needing fixes on wages, hours and safety, and name tungsten, cobalt and gold in drill tips and batteries as raw material risks. It publishes no supplier list or wage data, and no labour abuses have been reported. Shares count its 11 named plants per country (two each in Austria, Germany and China).
What independent sources say
| Source | Result | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Australian Modern Slavery Register | Listed | Hilti (Aust.) Pty Ltd is covered by Hilti's joint 2025 modern slavery statement: 33 supplier audits in 2024, some needing fixes on wages, working hours and safety. View |
| UK Modern Slavery Statement Registry | Listed | Hilti (Gt. Britain) Ltd files annual UK statements, most recently for 2025 (approved June 2026); the 2024 statement reports 44 supplier audits in 2023 and no forced or child labour found. View |
| Baptist World Aid Ethical Fashion Report | Not covered | Power tools are not assessed in Baptist World Aid's Ethical Fashion or Electronics reports. View |
| Corporate Human Rights Benchmark (World Benchmarking Alliance) | Not covered | Power tool makers are not among the sectors assessed in the 2026 Corporate Human Rights Benchmark. View |
| Business & Human Rights Resource Centre | Unclear | No labour allegations against Hilti appear in Business & Human Rights Resource Centre reporting. View |
Sources and actions
Sources 6
Show all 6 sources
- Hilti Statement on Modern Slavery 2025 (Australian register) · search the archive · About 820 core suppliers, 28% Asia/Pacific; 33 audits in 2024; short-term fixes needed on wages, hours, safety
- Store Representative @ Hilti (job listing) · search the archive · Hilti runs a store in Seven Hills, NSW
Published by Hilti or its owner
- Production locations - Hilti · search the archive · 11 own plants: Liechtenstein, Austria (2), Germany (2), Hungary, Mexico, China (2), the US and India
- Hilti (Aust.) Modern Slavery Statement 2022 · search the archive · Risks in clothing production and raw materials; tungsten, cobalt and gold flagged; conflict minerals questionnaires
- Hilti (Aust.) Modern Slavery Statement 2021 · search the archive · Tungsten and cobalt used in drill and chisel tips and batteries; about 30,000 employees; 80 supplier audits in 2020
- Hilti 2024 Modern Slavery Statement (UK) · search the archive · 44 supplier audits in 2023 verified by Bureau Veritas; no forced or child labour identified
Company details
- Employees
- About 30,000
- Last researched
- 3 November 2026
- Cite this page
- Labour Lens, "Is Hilti ethical? Labour rating", https://www.labourlens.net/brand/hilti, last researched 3 November 2026, accessed [date].
- Method
- Researched with AI assistance against published rules. How we check · What Lacks transparency means
Better-graded appliances
Something missing or wrong?
Grades are opinions based on the evidence listed here. Send us evidence, or a right of reply if you represent Hilti.