MJ Bale
Partly verifiedMJ Bale isn't doing enough to protect workers: there's no proof workers earn a living wage, and unions and workers' rights are heavily restricted in China and India.
Last researched 7 October 2026
Not doing enough. Workers in the supply chain are likely underpaid, unprotected or in danger, and in the worst cases face forced or child labour. Look for a better-graded alternative. What this grade means
Good: 1 of 5
- Pays a living wage
- Respects worker rights
- Full supply chain audit, or made only in countries with rigorous labour standards
- No child or forced labour findings
- Publishes where its products are made (supplier list, named farms or its own factories)
Great: 0 of 3
- Pays beyond a living wage
- Finds and fixes problems, or invests directly in workers' communities
- Actively empowers workers
Needs all Good requirements plus two of these.
Red flags: 1
- Hidden or unaudited supply chain (no certification or documentation, or major production in countries with poor worker rights without independent audits)
Where it's made
| Country | Worker rights | Legal wages | Forced labour risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| China 53% | Systematic violations | Below a living wage | Moderate |
| Italy 22% | Strong protections | Slightly below a living wage | Low |
| India 19% | Systematic violations | Well below a living wage | High |
| Vietnam 6% | Systematic violations | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
Country conditions from the ITUC Global Rights Index, Global Slavery Index and living wage benchmarks. Certifications and audits can raise a company above its countries' baseline.
Why this grade
- Cotton is linked to forced labour (Xinjiang, Turkmenistan) and child labour in several growing regions.
- Certified B Corp: Whole-company assessment. Labour is one part of the score, so it is supportive rather than proof.
- Modern slavery statement
About half of M.J. Bale's finished-goods spending is in China, followed by Italy, India and Vietnam; it does not publish a factory list. It uses SMETA social audits on a two-year cycle, which covered about 70% of its top 30 factories in FY25, and those audits found overtime, living wage gaps and fire and machinery safety problems, with 17 corrective actions closed. There is no living wage commitment or plan, no Fair Wear membership, and the brand's B Corp certification dates from 2024.
What independent sources say
| Source | Result | Details |
|---|---|---|
| B Corp directory | Found | Certified B Corp since March 2024 with an overall score of 84.2, including 22.4 for workers. View ↗ |
| Australian Modern Slavery Register | Found | Lodges annual modern slavery statements through its company Newbale Clothing, covering FY23 to FY25. View ↗ |
| Fair Wear | Unclear | No Fair Wear membership is mentioned in M.J. Bale's modern slavery statements. View ↗ |
| Baptist World Aid Ethical Fashion Report | Unclear | No Ethical Fashion Report grade for M.J. Bale has been published. View ↗ |
| Fashion Transparency Index (Fashion Revolution) | Unclear | No Fashion Transparency Index score for M.J. Bale has been published. View ↗ |
| Ethical Clothing Australia | Unclear | No Ethical Clothing Australia accreditation is claimed by M.J. Bale. View ↗ |
| Business & Human Rights Resource Centre | Unclear | No allegations against M.J. Bale have been published by the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre. View ↗ |
Confirmed issues
Problems confirmed by a court, regulator, completed investigation or the company itself. Issues more than 15 years old, or 10–15 years old where the company made amends, are removed. Problems a company finds and publishes itself, and is fixing, are shown but don't count against it.
| When | What happened | Made amends? |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | M.J. Bale admitted in 2019 that it had underpaid its own Australian retail staff for several years and repaid about A$500,000 in wages, interest and superannuation (Ragtrader, 2019). | Yes Repaid about A$500,000 in wages, interest and superannuation. |
Sources (6)
- M.J. Bale Modern Slavery Statement FY25 (Australian Modern Slavery Register) · archived copy · Tier 1 spend: China 50.1%, Italy 20.6%, India 17.6%, Vietnam 5.9%, other 2.9%; 35 Tier 1 suppliers; audits at 21 of top 30 facilities (about 70%); audit findings included overtime (32.8%) and living w
- M.J. Bale Modern Slavery Statement FY24 (Australian Modern Slavery Register) · archived copy · Top 30 suppliers in Italy, Japan, China, Korea, India, Thailand and Vietnam; two-year SEDEX SMETA audit cycle; no living wage commitment or supplier list.
- M.J. Bale Modern Slavery Statement FY23 (Australian Modern Slavery Register) · archived copy · Over 80 suppliers, 41 Tier 1; suppliers required to undergo SMETA audits every two years; no living wage data.
- M.J. Bale - B Corporation profile · archived copy · Certified B Corp since March 2024 with an overall score of 84.2 (Workers 22.4); headquartered in New South Wales.
- MJ Bale hit with $500,000 bill (Ragtrader, 2019) · archived copy · M.J. Bale identified and repaid about A$500,000 in underpaid wages, interest and super to retail staff; CEO said the underpayments were inadvertent.
- M.J. Bale sustainability page · archived copy · Names wool farms and the Italian weaver Vitale Barberis Canonico, but no garment factory list, audit details or living wage information.
Last researched 7 October 2026 · details still being verified. Grades are opinions based on the evidence listed here. Represent this company and think something is wrong? A right-of-reply form is coming soon.