Nokia
Lacks transparency. Publishes some details, but doesn't show its workers are paid and treated fairly.
Last researched 3 November 2026 · 7 sources
Finnish telecom network maker; its phones are made under licence by HMD.
There's no proof Nokia pays more than the legal minimum, which in China is below a living wage.
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Why it's graded Lacks transparency
- Not met: Meets 3 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 3 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, Vietnam and Malaysia.
- Met: Supply chain independently audited or certified, or at least 80% made in countries with strong labour standards
- Met: No confirmed child or forced labour findings or linksAn unconfirmed report of forced labour is listed below. It doesn't affect the grade.
- Met: Names the factories or farms that make its products, or is fully certified by a scheme that holds and audits that listPublishes its supplier list
- Not met: Traces its cobalt, gold and other conflict minerals to the mine
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 Nokia's own disclosure: it publishes its supplier list. Its list covers only part of its range. The rest is shown as where electronics are usually made.
| Country | Worker rights | Legal minimum wage | Forced labour risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| China | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Moderate |
| Vietnam | Systematic violations | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
| Malaysia | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Moderate |
| India | No guarantee of rights | Well below a living wage | High |
| Finland | Strong protections | About a living wage | Low |
| United States | Systematic violations | Below a living wage | Low |
| Canada | Regular violations | About a living wage | Low |
| Hungary | Systematic violations | Close to a living wage | Moderate |
| Mexico | Regular violations | Below a living wage | Moderate |
| Romania | Regular violations | Below a living wage | Moderate |
| Thailand | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Moderate |
| Türkiye | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Very high |
| TaiwanUsual for the industry | Strong protections | Close to a living wage | Low |
| South KoreaUsual for the industry | No guarantee of rights | 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.
- Publishes supplier list
- Modern slavery statement
- Publishes its mineral smelter list and uses independently audited smelters (RMAP) for tin, tantalum, tungsten and gold
- Makes part of its range in its own factories
- Independent social audits of all its main factories
- It publishes its smelters or uses some recycled or responsibly mined metals, but can't yet trace its cobalt and gold to the mine.
Research notes Nokia makes network equipment in its own factories in Finland, India and the US and through contract manufacturers (Flex, Foxconn, Jabil, Sanmina, Fabrinet, Karel) in 11 countries, without production shares. It publishes a list of 63 main suppliers (about half of manufacturing spend) but no factory addresses, is an RBA member, audits suppliers and publishes RMAP-checked smelters. It has no living wage commitment, and KnowTheChain scored it 21/100 in 2025. Nokia phones are made by licensee HMD, rated separately.
What independent sources say
| Source | Result | Details |
|---|---|---|
| KnowTheChain | Listed | KnowTheChain's 2025 ICT benchmark scored Nokia 21/100, 16th of 45 companies and one point down on 2022. It scored 59 on commitment and governance but 0 on purchasing practices, worker voice and remedy. View |
| Corporate Human Rights Benchmark (World Benchmarking Alliance) | Listed | The 2022 Corporate Human Rights Benchmark (ICT) gave Nokia 20.8/100, up from 10.5 in 2020; no 2026 CHRB result for Nokia is published. View |
| Australian Modern Slavery Register | Listed | Nokia Solutions and Networks Australia Pty Ltd is listed on the Australian Modern Slavery Register. Statements are listed for 2020 (Nokia Corporation), 2022 (Nokia Group), 2023 and 2024. View |
| UK Modern Slavery Statement Registry | Listed | Nokia Solutions and Networks OY has a modern slavery statement summary on the UK registry (2022). The statement covers all 6 recommended topics. View |
| Business & Human Rights Resource Centre | Listed | The Business & Human Rights Resource Centre's Nokia profile records allegations and company responses, including a 2010 Cividep complaint about conditions at phone plants near Chennai and reports on workers in India and Mexico. View |
| Open Supply Hub | Not listed | No Nokia factory list was found on Open Supply Hub. View |
| B Corp directory | Not listed | Nokia does not appear in the B Corp directory. View |
| US forced-labour import bans (UFLPA Entity List, CBP Withhold Release Orders) | Not listed | No UFLPA Entity List or CBP Withhold Release Order entry for Nokia was found. View |
| US Department of Labor goods lists | Not listed | Nokia is a company, not a good or country, so it does not appear on the US Department of Labor lists of goods made with child or forced labour. View |
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.
- ASPI's 2020 'Uyghurs for Sale' report listed Nokia among 83 brands linked to Chinese factories that use Uyghur workers transferred out of Xinjiang; UN human rights experts wrote to Nokia in 2021, and Nokia replied that none of its manufacturing suppliers are in or near Xinjiang and it found no evidence supporting the claims. Source
- A 2013 SACOM investigation reported excessive working hours, military-style management, worker suicides and blank contracts at Biel Crystal's Chinese factories, and the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre listed Nokia among its customers; no Nokia response is documented. Source
Sources and actions
Sources 7
Show all 7 sources
- KnowTheChain 2025 ICT Scorecard: Nokia · search the archive · 21/100, rank 16 of 45; zero on purchasing practices, worker voice and remedy
- Nokia Form 20-F 2025 · search the archive · About 78,000 employees on average in 2025; businesses are network infrastructure and patent licensing
- Nokia, HMD Global extend licence deal over Nokia branded feature phones (PTI, 2025) · search the archive · Nokia-branded feature phones are made and sold by licensee HMD Global
Published by Nokia or its owner
- Our supply chain approach (Nokia) · search the archive · Own factories in Finland, India, US; contract manufacturers' sites in 11 countries; 788 supplier audits and assessments in 2025
- Nokia Supplier List 2026 · search the archive · Names 63 final assembly and component suppliers, about half of 2025 manufacturing spend; no site addresses
- Nokia Conflict Minerals Report for 2025 · search the archive · Publishes smelter and refiner information checked against RMAP and LBMA lists
- Industry collaboration (Nokia) · search the archive · Nokia is a member of the Responsible Business Alliance
Company details
- Headquarters
- Finland
- Employees
- About 78,000
- Last researched
- 3 November 2026
- Cite this page
- Labour Lens, "Is Nokia ethical? Labour rating", https://www.labourlens.net/brand/nokia, last researched 3 November 2026, accessed [date].
- Method
- Researched with AI assistance against published rules. How we check · What Lacks transparency means
Better-graded phones
3 refurbished sellers, Good by ruleBuying second-hand or refurbished: Frank Mobile, Back Market and Reebelo · See them allGoodFairphoneMissing: living wage proof, worker rights protections and traced raw materials · ElectronicsModular, repairable smartphones and earbudsPays or is working towards a living wage, with gaps still to close.On TrackPartly verified
No phones 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 Nokia.