Makita
Lacks transparency. Publishes some details, but doesn't show its workers are paid and treated fairly.
Last researched 3 November 2026 · 6 sources
Japanese maker of power tools and garden equipment.
There's no proof Makita pays more than the legal minimum, which in China and Brazil is below a living wage.
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Why it's graded Lacks transparency
- Not met: Meets 4 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 4 of 6
- Not met: Pays a living wage, or holds a strong fair-pay certificationLiving wage: no evidence
- Met: Respects worker rights
- 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 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 Makita'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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Japan | 27% | Strong protections | Close to a living wage | Low |
| China | 19% | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Moderate |
| Brazil | 9% | Systematic violations | Below a living wage | Moderate |
| Germany | 9% | Strong protections | About a living wage | Low |
| United Kingdom | 9% | Regular violations | Close to a living wage | Low |
| Romania | 9% | Regular violations | Below a living wage | Moderate |
| Thailand | 9% | No guarantee of rights | 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 |
| IndiaUsual for the industry | under 1% | No guarantee of rights | Well below a living wage | High |
| 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 |
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
Research notes Makita makes its tools in its own plants: about 90% of output is made outside Japan, in plants in China, Thailand, Romania, Brazil, Germany, the UK and the US, and from late 2025 it began shifting US-bound production from China to Romania and Thailand. Shares are by plant count from its 2019 corporate data (3 in Japan, 2 in China, 1 in each other country), not by volume. Makita has a human rights policy, a grievance channel for supply chain workers and conflict minerals checks, but it publishes no social audit results, supplier list or wage information.
What independent sources say
| Source | Result | Details |
|---|---|---|
| UK Modern Slavery Statement Registry | Listed | Makita (U.K.) Ltd publishes a UK Modern Slavery Act statement; the 2021 statement says it buys mainly from group plants and describes contract terms but no audits or findings. View |
| Australian Modern Slavery Register | Unclear | No modern slavery statement from Makita's Australian subsidiary was located on the Australian register. 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 |
Sources and actions
Sources 6
Show all 6 sources
- Makita to relocate production operations from China to Romania (Romania Insider, 2025) · search the archive · US-bound production moving from China to Romania and Thailand; Romanian plant has about 1,800 staff
- Hammer Drills - Bunnings Australia · search the archive · Makita tools sold in Bunnings stores in Australia
Published by Makita or its owner
- At a glance - Makita Investor Relations · search the archive · About 90% of production overseas; plants in China, US, UK, Germany, Brazil, Romania and Thailand
- Makita corporate data (March 2019) · search the archive · 3 plants in Japan and 8 overseas: 2 in China, 1 each in US, Brazil, UK, Germany, Romania, Thailand
- Approaches to Business Partners - Makita · search the archive · Procurement policy covers human rights; grievance mechanism for supply chain workers; conflict minerals checks; no audit results
- Makita (U.K.) Ltd Modern Slavery Statement 2021 · search the archive · Makita UK buys mainly from group plants; contract terms ban forced and child labour; no audits or findings reported
Company details
- Headquarters
- Japan
- Last researched
- 3 November 2026
- Cite this page
- Labour Lens, "Is Makita ethical? Labour rating", https://www.labourlens.net/brand/makita, last researched 3 November 2026, accessed [date].
- Method
- Researched with AI assistance against published rules. How we check · What Lacks transparency means
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Grades are opinions based on the evidence listed here. Send us evidence, or a right of reply if you represent Makita.