Michael Hill
Lacks transparency. Publishes some details, but doesn't show its workers are paid and treated fairly.
Last researched 3 November 2026 · 7 sources
Brisbane jewellery chain selling engagement rings and jewellery.
There's no proof Michael Hill pays more than the legal minimum, which in India is well below a living wage, and it has no full independent audit.
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Why it's graded Lacks transparency
- Not met: Meets 1 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 (unpaid or underpaid wages, last recorded in 2019) was found by its own checks and is being fixed.
- 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. Michael Hill looks for problems in its own supply chain and publishes what it finds. It found unpaid or underpaid wages in 2019 and is fixing it, so it doesn't count against the grade. It's listed below under Confirmed issues.
Good requirements 1 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 India and China, 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
- 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: 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
Estimates for its products
Our rules applied to one kind of product at a time, using Michael Hill'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, Engagement & wedding rings, Necklaces & pendants, Earrings, Bracelets, Watches: Lacks transparency, the same as Michael Hill 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
Michael Hill names some of the countries it makes in: India, Italy, Australia, Thailand, China, Canada, South Africa, New Zealand, Türkiye, the United States and South Korea. The rest is shown as where jewellery and watches are usually made.
| Country | Worker rights | Legal minimum wage | Forced labour risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| India | No guarantee of rights | Well below a living wage | High |
| China | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Moderate |
| Thailand | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Moderate |
| Italy | Strong protections | Close to a living wage | Low |
| Australia | Strong protections | About a living wage | Low |
| Canada | Regular violations | About a living wage | Low |
| South Africa | Regular violations | Below a living wage | Low |
| New Zealand | Strong protections | About a living wage | Low |
| Türkiye | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Very high |
| United States | Systematic violations | Below a living wage | Low |
| South Korea | No guarantee of rights | Close to a living wage | Low |
| SwitzerlandUsual for the industry | Regular violations | About a living wage | Low |
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.
- Responsible Jewellery Council certified: Industry code for jewellery businesses covering human rights and responsible sourcing. Its Chain of Custody standard traces materials; the basic certification does not. Source
- Modern slavery statement
- Makes part of its range in its own factories
- It is Responsible Jewellery Council certified, but its stones and gold aren't traced to the mine. The Kimberley Process only covers diamonds that fund rebel wars, not abuses by governments or forced labour.
Research notes Michael Hill buys from 123 jewellery manufacturers and repairers; its FY25 spend chart lists suppliers in India, Italy, Australia, Thailand, China, Canada, South Africa, New Zealand, Turkey, the USA and Korea, plus its own Brisbane workshop, but it publishes no supplier list or shares. It holds RJC Code of Practices certification to 2028 (not Chain of Custody) and says its precious metals are responsibly sourced, but does not trace gold, gems or diamonds to the mine. In FY25 Bureau Veritas audited seven factories, all in China, finding 84 non-conformances (40 still open); living wages are not addressed.
What independent sources say
| Source | Result | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Australian Modern Slavery Register | Listed | Michael Hill International lodges annual modern slavery statements; the FY25 statement was approved in November 2025. View |
| News reporting and NGO investigations | Problem found | Michael Hill disclosed in 2019 that it had underpaid Australian retail staff an estimated A$10-25 million over six years. View |
| Business & Human Rights Resource Centre | Not listed | No Business & Human Rights Resource Centre allegations involving this brand were identified. 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? |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | A PwC review commissioned by Michael Hill found it had underpaid its Australian retail staff under the General Retail Industry Award for about six years, owing an estimated A$10-25 million (HCAMag, Jeweller Magazine, 2019). 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. | PartlyIn April 2020 it said back pay to current staff was largely complete and interest would be paid, but payments to former staff were paused; completion is not documented. |
Sources and actions
Sources 7
Show all 7 sources
- RJC member page – Michael Hill International Limited · search the archive · RJC member since November 2016; Code of Practices certification valid 20 Feb 2025 to 20 Feb 2028; no Chain of Custody certification listed.
- Jeweller Magazine – Michael Hill reveals renewed focus on lab created diamond range (2023) · search the archive · Lab-created diamonds were 6% of Michael Hill's diamond sales in 2023.
- HCAMag – Michael Hill to pay $25M in underpaid wages (2019) · search the archive · PwC audit found retail staff underpaid over six years, up to A$25 million; company committed to repay.
- Jeweller Magazine – Michael Hill underpayment (2019) · search the archive · Internal review found Australian retail staff underpaid A$10-25 million over six years under the General Retail Industry Award.
- InDaily Qld – Rough diamonds: Michael Hill pays out $25m to underpaid staff (2020) · search the archive · April 2020: payments to current staff largely complete, interest to be paid; program for former staff paused.
Published by Michael Hill or its owner
- Michael Hill International – Modern Slavery Statement FY25 · search the archive · FY25: 123 jewellery makers; spend chart: IN, IT, AU, TH, CN, CA, ZA, NZ, TR, US, KR; 7 audits in China, 84 non-conformances (44 fixed); RJC to 2028
- Michael Hill International – Modern Slavery Statement FY25 (attested February 2026) · search the archive · Higher-risk sourcing countries India, Thailand, Myanmar, Vietnam, Korea, Philippines, China; Canadian operations 10.3% of group spend; no living wage.
Company details
- Headquarters
- Australia
- Last researched
- 3 November 2026
- Cite this page
- Labour Lens, "Is Michael Hill ethical? Labour rating", https://www.labourlens.net/brand/michael-hill, 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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Something missing or wrong?
Grades are opinions based on the evidence listed here. Send us evidence, or a right of reply if you represent Michael Hill.