Lovisa
Lacks transparency. Publishes some details, but doesn't show its workers are paid and treated fairly.
Last researched 3 November 2026 · 7 sources
Sydney fast-fashion jewellery chain selling low-priced earrings.
Until Lovisa traces its gold and gemstones to the mine, it can't show that the miners who dig them are safe or fairly paid.
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Why it's graded Lacks transparency
- Not met: Meets 2 of 6 Good requirements.
- Holds the grade back: It relies on high-risk mined materials it can't trace. That alone means a poor grade until it takes steps to trace them.
- 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 rightsJudged on where its products are made: worker rights are poorly protected in China, the United States and Thailand.
- 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: Conflict-free: diamonds, gems and gold traced to the mine, lab-grown, recycled or Fairmined (the Kimberley Process alone isn't enough)
Red flags 2
- Red flag: No evidence it pays a living wage
- Red flag: Relies on high-risk mined materials it can't trace
- 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
Accreditations 1
Estimates for its products
Our rules applied to one kind of product at a time, using Lovisa's evidence and, where it has product lines, that line's countries. They're estimates: we don't know which factory made any single item.
Rings, Necklaces & pendants, Earrings, Bracelets: Lacks transparency, the same as Lovisa overall, because nothing we know differs between them.
Holding one? Scan its barcode for an estimate that uses its care label or ingredients.
Where it's made
China has the largest share, 80%. The United States is next, at 10%.
| Country | Share | Worker rights | Legal minimum wage | Forced labour risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| China | 80% | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Moderate |
| United States | 10% | Systematic violations | Below a living wage | Low |
| Thailand | 9% | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Moderate |
| India | 1% | No guarantee of rights | Well below a living wage | High |
Evidence
What we found
- Risk across the industry, not a finding about this company: gold and gemstone mining are linked to child labour, forced labour and mercury poisoning.
- Modern slavery statement
- Independent social audits of all its main factories
- Relies on gold and gemstones from artisanal mines where workers face mercury poisoning, silica dust and deadly 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 Lovisa says its jewellery comes from 92 factories, with about 80% from China, 10% from the USA, 9% from Thailand and 1% from India; it does not name these factories. It collected SMETA or BSCI audit reports from 95% of suppliers in FY25 and reports a 100% pass rate, but publishes no findings, no living wage commitment and nothing on where its metals or stones come from. A supplier code of conduct was being rolled out to all suppliers in FY26. Its products are mostly plated base metal and stainless steel, with a smaller sterling silver range.
What independent sources say
| Source | Result | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Australian Modern Slavery Register | Listed | Lovisa Holdings has lodged modern slavery statements for every year from FY2020 to FY2025. View |
| News reporting and NGO investigations | Listed | Paid more than NZ$153,000 in wage arrears after a 2021 Labour Inspectorate investigation; a 2025 staff underpayment class action is before the Federal Court. 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? |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | A 2021 New Zealand Labour Inspectorate investigation found Lovisa had miscalculated sick leave and used annual holidays on public holidays, leaving store staff owed more than NZ$153,000 (HCAMag, 2023). Source · search the archivePut right The company has put this right for the people affected, so it no longer counts against the grade. | YesLovisa paid more than NZ$153,000 in wage arrears to New Zealand staff after the Labour Inspectorate investigation. |
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.
- A Federal Court class action filed by Adero Law in January 2025, with more than 300 former staff registered, alleges Lovisa required unpaid work before and after shifts, unpaid training and skipped breaks between 2019 and 2025; Lovisa says it will defend the claims. Source
- A former Melbourne warehouse worker told news.com.au in 2023 of unsafe equipment, unsanitary conditions and recurring pay problems at a Lovisa warehouse between 2015 and 2017. Source
Sources and actions
Sources 7
Show all 7 sources
- Modern Slavery Register – Lovisa Holdings statements · search the archive · Six statements lodged, FY2020 to FY2025.
- HCAMag – Focus on wage arrears after Lovisa owes $153,000 (2023) · search the archive · 2021 Labour Inspectorate investigation found sick leave and holiday breaches; Lovisa paid over NZ$153,000 in arrears.
- The Nightly – Lovisa to defend new class action over staff underpayment claims (2025) · search the archive · Adero Law class action alleging unpaid work, unpaid training and skipped breaks, 2019-2025; Lovisa intends to defend.
- Jeweller Magazine – Lovisa faces further public scrutiny (2023) · search the archive · Former warehouse worker's allegations of unsafe equipment and pay problems, 2015-2017.
- Lawyers Weekly – Lovisa class action may run as regular proceeding (2025) · search the archive · Case at case-management stage in the Federal Court in March 2025; no ruling.
Published by Lovisa or its owner
- Lovisa Holdings – Modern Slavery Statement FY2025 · search the archive · FY2025: 92 factories in 4 countries; China 80%, USA 10%, Thailand 9%, India 1%; SMETA/BSCI reports from 95% of suppliers, all passed; code due FY26.
- Lovisa – FAQ · search the archive · Product categories include gold plated, sterling silver, surgical steel, titanium, cubic zirconia and pearl; no sourcing or sustainability statements.
Company details
- Headquarters
- Australia
- Last researched
- 3 November 2026
- Cite this page
- Labour Lens, "Is Lovisa ethical? Labour rating", https://www.labourlens.net/brand/lovisa, last researched 3 November 2026, accessed [date].
- Method
- Researched with AI assistance against published rules. How we check · What Lacks transparency means
Other fashion jewellery brands
Nothing we've rated in fashion jewellery is better than Lacks transparency yet.
Something missing or wrong?
Grades are opinions based on the evidence listed here. Send us evidence, or a right of reply if you represent Lovisa.