Intel
Lacks transparency. Publishes some details, but doesn't show its workers are paid and treated fairly.
Last researched 3 November 2026 · 7 sources
US chipmaker making Core processors and Arc graphics cards.
There's no proof Intel pays more than the legal minimum, which in the United States and China is below a living wage.
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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: the most serious problem on its record (forced labour, last recorded in 2023) has been put right.
- 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.
- Checks its own supply chain. Intel looks for problems in its own supply chain and publishes what it finds. It found forced labour in 2023 and is fixing it, so it doesn't count against the grade. It's listed below under Confirmed issues.
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 rightsJudged on where its products are made: worker rights are poorly protected in the United States, Israel and China.
- 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 it isn't fixingIts own checks found forced labour, which it is fixing. That's listed below and doesn't count against the grade. An unconfirmed report of forced labour is listed below. It doesn't affect the grade.
- Met: Names the factories or farms that make its products, or is fully certified by a scheme that holds and audits that listPublishes its supplier list
- Not met: Traces its cobalt, gold and other conflict minerals to the mine
Red flags 1
- Red flag: No evidence it pays a living wage
Stars it would earn as Good
None yet. Stars only show on Good companies. About stars
Where it's made
From Intel's own disclosure: it publishes its supplier list.
| Country | Worker rights | Legal minimum wage | Forced labour risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | Systematic violations | Below a living wage | Low |
| Israel | Systematic violations | Not rated | Low |
| China | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Moderate |
| Malaysia | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Moderate |
| Ireland | Strong protections | About a living wage | Low |
| Vietnam | Systematic violations | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
| Costa Rica | Systematic violations | Below a living wage | Low |
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.
- Owns or runs its own production
- Publishes supplier list
- Publishes its mineral smelter list and uses independently audited smelters (RMAP) for tin, tantalum, tungsten and gold
- Modern slavery statement
- It publishes its smelters or uses some recycled or responsibly mined metals, but can't yet trace its cobalt and gold to the mine.
Research notes Intel makes most of its chips in its own wafer fabs in the US, Ireland and Israel and assembles and tests them at its own sites in Malaysia, Vietnam, China and Costa Rica; the Costa Rica plant is due to close by late 2026, moving to Malaysia and Vietnam. It publishes a first-tier supplier list, a smelter list and a UK modern slavery statement. It scored 34/100 in the 2025 KnowTheChain ICT benchmark, down from 2nd place in 2022, and has no living wage commitment for supply chain workers.
What independent sources say
| Source | Result | Details |
|---|---|---|
| KnowTheChain | Listed | Scored 34/100 and ranked 8th of 45 in the 2025 KnowTheChain ICT benchmark, down from 2nd in 2022. View |
| Baptist World Aid Ethical Fashion Report | Not listed | Not in any current Baptist World Aid rating; the Electronics Industry Report has had no edition since 2016. View |
| UK Modern Slavery Statement Registry | Listed | Publishes an annual statement on combating modern slavery under the UK Modern Slavery Act and California law. View |
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? |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Intel reported finding supplier workers who had paid recruitment fees and in some cases surrendered passports, a form of bonded labour; fees were still being repaid in 2023 (Intel modern slavery statement, 2023). Source · search the archiveFound and being fixed by the company Not counted against the grade while the company is actively fixing it, because it found and published it itself. | YesSuppliers returned over US$27 million in fees to more than 28,000 workers since 2014, including US$1 million to 3,500 workers in 2023. |
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.
- KnowTheChain recorded one allegation linking Intel's supply chain to Uyghur forced labour and found Intel discloses no steps to address the risk (KnowTheChain, 2025). Source
Sources and actions
Sources 7
Show all 7 sources
- KnowTheChain 2025 ICT Scorecard: Intel · search the archive · 34/100, ranked 8th of 45 (2nd in 2022); purchasing practices 0; first-tier supplier list; one Uyghur forced labour allegation.
- Intel fija fecha para cerrar su planta de Costa Rica (La Nación, March 2026) · search the archive · Intel expects to finish closing its Costa Rica assembly and test plant by late 2026, moving work to Vietnam and Malaysia.
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285K Processor (JB Hi-Fi) · search the archive · Intel processors sold at JB Hi-Fi in Australia.
Published by Intel or its owner
- Where are Intel processors manufactured? (Intel support) · search the archive · Fabs in Arizona, New Mexico, Oregon, Ireland and Israel; assembly/test in China, Costa Rica, Malaysia and Vietnam.
- Intel Form SD and Conflict Minerals Report 2023 · search the archive · Lists 3TG smelters; 99% of 226 conformant or participating; most products made in Intel's own fabs.
- Intel Statement on Combating Modern Slavery 2023 · search the archive · UK MSA and California statement; US$1m fees returned to 3,500 workers in 2023, US$27m to 28,000+ since 2014.
- RBA Validated Audit Process summary: Penang (Intel) · search the archive · Intel's Penang, Malaysia assembly and test site audited under the RBA Validated Audit Process.
Company details
- Headquarters
- United States
- Last researched
- 3 November 2026
- Cite this page
- Labour Lens, "Is Intel ethical? Labour rating", https://www.labourlens.net/brand/intel, last researched 3 November 2026, accessed [date].
- Method
- Researched with AI assistance against published rules. How we check · What Lacks transparency means
Better-graded laptops and computers
No laptops and computers 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 Intel.