Netgear
Lacks transparency. Publishes some details, but doesn't show its workers are paid and treated fairly.
Last researched 2 November 2026 · 5 sources
US company selling Wi-Fi routers, Orbi mesh systems and modems.
Netgear can't show that the workers who make its products in Vietnam and Indonesia earn a living wage, which workers there are very unlikely to.
Also worth knowing
It doesn't name the factories its Responsible Business Alliance audits cover.
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Why it's graded Lacks transparency
- Not met: Meets 1 of 6 Good requirements.
- Holds the grade back: It has 3 red flags: no evidence of a living wage, unaudited production in high-risk countries and untraced high-risk mined materials. Two or more red flags means a poor grade.
- 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 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 Thailand and Indonesia, 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: Traces its cobalt, gold and other conflict minerals to the mine
Red flags 3
- 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
- Red flag: Relies on high-risk mined materials it can't traceShown to explain the grade. It isn't one of the 2 red flags that set it.
- 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
Where it's made
Netgear says which countries it makes its products in, but doesn't name the factories.
| Country | Worker rights | Legal minimum wage | Forced labour risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thailand | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Moderate |
| Vietnam | Systematic violations | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
| Indonesia | No guarantee of rights | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
| Taiwan | Strong protections | Close to a living wage | Low |
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
- Relies on metals such as cobalt, gold and tin from artisanal mines where miners, including children, face toxic dust, mercury exposure and deadly tunnel 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 NETGEAR outsources manufacturing to contract makers including Foxconn, Pegatron, Delta Electronics, Senao and T&W, with production in Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia and Taiwan; it has moved manufacturing entirely out of China but gives no country shares. It is a Responsible Business Alliance member and uses RBA audits of suppliers, but publishes no supplier list, audit counts or findings, and makes no living wage commitment. No confirmed labour abuses tied to its suppliers were found. It gives no split between these countries.
What independent sources say
| Source | Result | Details |
|---|---|---|
| UK Modern Slavery Statement Registry | Listed | NETGEAR publishes a combined California Transparency in Supply Chains and UK Modern Slavery Act disclosure describing supplier audits and its supplier code. View |
Sources and actions
Sources 5
Show all 5 sources
- NETGEAR Form 10-K FY2025 (SEC) · search the archive · Primary makers Foxconn, Delta, Senao, Pegatron and T&W; made in Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia and Taiwan; out of China; 784 staff
- Harvey Norman: NETGEAR modems and routers · search the archive · NETGEAR routers sold by Harvey Norman stores in Australia
Published by Netgear or its owner
- NETGEAR's Approach to Ethical and Sustainable Supply Chains (2025) · search the archive · Long-standing RBA member; RBA Validated Assessment Program supplier audits; no audit counts published
- NETGEAR CA Supply Chain and UK Modern Slavery Act Disclosure · search the archive · Announced third-party supplier audits; supplier code; no findings or wage data disclosed
- NETGEAR Australia: Corporate Responsibility · search the archive · Zero tolerance for forced labour; conflict minerals policy for 3TG; no supplier list
Company details
- Headquarters
- United States
- Employees
- About 784
- Last researched
- 2 November 2026
- Cite this page
- Labour Lens, "Is Netgear ethical? Labour rating", https://www.labourlens.net/brand/netgear, last researched 2 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 Netgear.