Kingston Technology
Lacks transparency. Publishes some details, but doesn't show its workers are paid and treated fairly.
Last researched 3 November 2026 · 7 sources
US maker of computer memory, SSDs and USB drives.
There's no proof Kingston Technology pays more than the legal minimum, which in China and Malaysia is below a living wage.
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Why it's graded Lacks transparency
- Not met: Meets 2 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 2 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
- 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
- Not met: Traces its cobalt, gold and other conflict minerals to the mine
Red flags 2
- 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
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. Kingston Technology makes its products in its own factories, but we haven't recorded its countries from it yet. 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 |
| Taiwan | Strong protections | Close to a living wage | Low |
| Malaysia | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Moderate |
| VietnamUsual for the industry | Systematic violations | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
| United States | Systematic violations | Below 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
- Publishes its mineral smelter list and uses independently audited smelters (RMAP) for tin, tantalum, tungsten and gold
- Owns or runs its own production
- 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 Kingston says it has global manufacturing sites with its own SMT lines but does not name them; trade reports have placed its factories in the US, Taiwan, China and Malaysia, with Dublin a logistics hub, and no split is given. It is an RBA and RMI member, audits suppliers against the RBA code (8 audits and 240 self-assessments in 2024) and publishes a smelter list with all smelters in the RMAP programme, including cobalt. It publishes no supplier list, audit findings or living wage commitment.
What independent sources say
| Source | Result | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Australian Modern Slavery Register | Listed | Kingston's 2025 Modern Slavery and Transparency in Supply Chain Statement says it is made under the Australian, UK and California laws. View |
| UK Modern Slavery Statement Registry | Listed | Publishes an annual statement under the UK Modern Slavery Act. View |
| KnowTheChain | Not listed | Not among the companies assessed in the 2025 KnowTheChain ICT benchmark. View |
| Baptist World Aid Ethical Fashion Report | Not covered | Baptist World Aid's Electronics Industry Report ended in 2016 and did not cover Kingston. View |
| Business & Human Rights Resource Centre | Unclear | Has a company page on the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre, with no labour abuse cases found naming Kingston. View |
Sources and actions
Sources 7
Show all 7 sources
- StorageNewsletter: Company profile Kingston · search the archive · 2019: privately owned; Fountain Valley HQ; manufacturing in Shanghai and Hsin-Chu; Dublin site is a logistics hub
- Kingston Fury Beast 32GB DDR5 (PLE Computers) · search the archive · Kingston memory sold by PLE, with stock listed at its Perth stores
- Hardware Secrets: Kingston factory tour in Fountain Valley, CA · search the archive · 2005: Kingston factories in Fountain Valley (US), Shenzhen and Shanghai (China), Penang (Malaysia) and Hsin-Chu (Taiwan)
Published by Kingston Technology or its owner
- 2025 Kingston Modern Slavery and Transparency in Supply Chain Statement · search the archive · RBA member; 8 supplier audits and 240 self-assessments in 2024; over 2,800 employees; covers Australian Act
- Kingston Responsible Minerals Report (March 2026) · search the archive · RBA and RMI member; smelter list for 3TG, cobalt and mica; 228 smelters, all RMAP conformant
- Kingston global presence (kingston.com) · search the archive · Kingston has its own manufacturing facilities worldwide with more than 63 SMT lines
- Kingston UK Modern Slavery Act page · search the archive · Kingston publishes UK Modern Slavery Act statements
Company details
- Headquarters
- United States
- Employees
- About 2,800
- Last researched
- 3 November 2026
- Cite this page
- Labour Lens, "Is Kingston Technology ethical? Labour rating", https://www.labourlens.net/brand/kingston, 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 Kingston Technology.