Lacks transparency. Publishes some details, but doesn't show its workers are paid and treated fairly.
Last researched 30 October 2026 · 7 sources
Taiwanese maker of Vive VR headsets, AI smart glasses and smartphones.
HTC's supply chain was linked to forced labour in 2020, and it doesn't name the factories its Responsible Business Alliance audits cover.
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Why it's graded Lacks transparency
- Not met: Meets 0 of 6 Good requirements.
- Holds the grade back: It has 4 red flags: no evidence of a living wage, unaudited production in high-risk countries, forced or child labour and untraced high-risk mined materials. Two or more red flags means a poor grade.
- It isn't Harm on record: the most serious problem on its record (forced labour link, last recorded in 2020) is more than 5 years old.
- 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 0 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
- Not 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 4
- Red flag: No evidence it pays a living wageShown to explain the grade. It isn't one of the 2 red flags that set it.
- Red flag: Made mostly in countries with poor worker rights, without a full independent audit of its supply chain
- Red flag: Forced, slave or child labour found in or linked to 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
From press and retailer reports; HTC doesn't say where its products are made. The rest is shown as where electronics are usually made.
| Country | Worker rights | Legal minimum wage | Forced labour risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| ChinaUsual for the industry | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Moderate |
| Taiwan | Strong protections | Close to a living wage | Low |
| VietnamUsual for the industry | Systematic violations | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
| MalaysiaUsual for the industry | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Moderate |
| 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.
- Makes part of its range in its own factories
- 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 HTC is a Responsible Business Alliance member and says it audits suppliers against its code of conduct and the RBA tools, but it publishes no supplier list, audit results or smelter list. Its Vive Eagle AI glasses are made at its own plant in Taoyuan, Taiwan; where its other headsets and phones are assembled is not disclosed. Its UK modern slavery statement reports no forced labour findings.
Confirmed issues 1
Only confirmed problems are listed, and old ones drop off after 10 to 15 years. A problem the company has fully put right no longer counts against it, and nor does one it finds and is fixing itself. How problems are counted
| Last recorded | What happened | Made amends? |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Link through a supplierThe Australian Strategic Policy Institute's 2020 report on Uyghur labour transfers named HTC among 83 companies directly or indirectly benefiting from forced Uyghur labour through their supply chains (Taipei Times, 2020). Source · archived copy | Not knownNo source found describing any action HTC took in response to the report. |
Unconfirmed reports
Credible reports that haven't been confirmed by a regulator, completed investigation or the company. They're shown for your information and don't affect the grade.
- In 2018 Filipino migrant workers protested at HTC's headquarters and shareholders' meeting, accusing HTC and employment agencies of pressuring them to sign resignation letters to hide a mass layoff; the Taoyuan Department of Labor said it was investigating (Asia Times, 2018). Source
Sources and actions
Sources 7
Show all 7 sources
- DIGITIMES news, 22 August 2025 · search the archive · 2025: HTC makes its Vive Eagle AI glasses in-house, mainly at its own Taoyuan plant; '100% made in Taiwan'.
- Taipei Times editorial, 7 March 2020 · archived copy · 2020: ASPI named HTC, Acer and Asustek among 83 companies benefiting from forced Uyghur labour.
- Google's AI glasses may be manufactured in Taiwan, HTC tipped as possible partner · search the archive · HTC has moved away from contract manufacturing and makes its own VR, AR and AI products at its Taoyuan facility.
- Workers protest outside HTC shareholders' meeting · search the archive · 2018: Filipino migrant workers alleged forced resignations; labour department investigation ongoing.
- VIVE Australia | EOFY sale · search the archive · HTC runs an Australian VIVE online store with promotions for Australian buyers.
Published by HTC or its owner
- Sustainable Supply Chain | HTC · search the archive · HTC is an RBA member, follows the RBA Code of Conduct and trains suppliers; reports RBA VAP audit coverage of tier 1 suppliers for 2024.
- Modern Slavery Act Statement | HTC · search the archive · Statement for 2025: supplier audits with a labour focus, RBA risk assessment platform and self-assessment questionnaires; no supplier list.
Company details
- Headquarters
- Taiwan
- Last researched
- 30 October 2026
- Cite this page
- Labour Lens, "Is HTC ethical? Labour rating", https://www.labourlens.net/brand/htc, last researched 30 October 2026, accessed [date].
- Method
- Researched with AI assistance against published rules. How we check · What Lacks transparency means
Better-graded phones
No phones brand selling new goods is Good yet. This is the strongest so far. 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 HTC.