Portwest
Lacks transparency. Publishes some details, but doesn't show its workers are paid and treated fairly.
Last researched 1 November 2026 · 8 sources
Irish workwear and safety gear maker with its own factories in Asia and Africa.
Portwest can't show that the workers who make its products in Bangladesh and Myanmar earn a living wage, which workers there are very unlikely to.
Also worth knowing
It has no full independent audit.
Better-graded workwear and uniforms
Graded higher than Portwest, selling the same kinds of things.
Know something we've missed? Send evidence. Represent Portwest? Send a right of reply.
Compare Portwest with another brand
Why it's graded Lacks transparency
- Not met: Meets 1 of 6 Good requirements.
- Holds the grade back: It has 2 red flags: no evidence of a living wage and unaudited production in high-risk countries. 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 countries such as China and Bangladesh, 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: High-risk raw materials (cotton) traced or certified, or not a major part of its rangeNot traced or certified: cotton
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
Where it's made
Portwest says it makes products in Bangladesh, Myanmar and Ethiopia. Product labels show China. The rest is shown as where clothes and shoes are usually made.
| Country | Worker rights | Legal minimum wage | Forced labour risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| China | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Moderate |
| Bangladesh | No guarantee of rights | Far below a living wage | Moderate |
| VietnamUsual for the industry | Systematic violations | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
| Myanmar | No guarantee of rights | Far below a living wage | Very high |
| Ethiopia | Systematic violations | Far below a living wage | Moderate |
| IndiaUsual for the industry | No guarantee of rights | Well below a living wage | High |
| CambodiaUsual for the industry | No guarantee of rights | Far below a living wage | Moderate |
| TürkiyeUsual for the industry | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Very high |
| IndonesiaUsual for the industry | No guarantee of rights | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
| PakistanUsual for the industry | No guarantee of rights | Far below a living wage | High |
Evidence
What we found
- Makes part of its range in its own factories
- Modern slavery statement
- Doesn't show where its cotton comes from. Cotton is linked to forced labour in Xinjiang and Turkmenistan, and child labour in several growing regions, so it can't be graded Good until it traces or certifies it.
Research notes Portwest says it owns four factories: two in Bangladesh, one in Myanmar and a new one in Ethiopia, and that they hold WRAP Gold certificates. It does not say what share of its range these factories make; retailer listings show some of its safety boots are made in China, and it names no outside suppliers. It publishes a modern slavery statement and an ethical trading code, but no supplier list, audit results or wage figures. It sells in Australia through its Melbourne warehouse and workwear stores, and owns the Australian workwear brand Prime Mover.
Sources and actions
Sources 8
Show all 8 sources
- The owners of Westport House have snapped up an Australian workwear brand (Fora) · search the archive · Portwest bought the Australian workwear brand Prime Mover in 2017
- Portwest Ltd - Drapers Jobs · search the archive · Four owned factories (Bangladesh x2, Myanmar, Ethiopia); headquarters address in Westport, Ireland
- Portwest Compositelite Traction 10 Inch Safety Boot - Xamax · search the archive · Retailer listing: country of manufacture China
- Port West - Motoman Industrial Wear · search the archive · Current Australian retailer listing (Chatswood NSW store) selling Portwest products in AUD
Published by Portwest or its owner
- About Us - Portwest · search the archive · Owns four factories in Bangladesh (x2), Myanmar and Ethiopia; over 4,500 employees; sales office and warehouse in Australia
- The Portwest Advantage · search the archive · Own factories in Bangladesh, Myanmar and Ethiopia awarded WRAP Gold certificates; facilities audited to international standards
- Ethics - Portwest · search the archive · Lists its Ethical Trading & Code of Conduct Policy, Modern Slavery Statement and WRAP Gold; Oeko-Tex and ISO certificates for Eastport and Myport sites
- Hip Pocket - Portwest · search the archive · Portwest supplies Hip Pocket Workwear, which has over 50 stores in Australia, from its Melbourne warehouse
Company details
- Headquarters
- Ireland
- Employees
- About 4,500
- Last researched
- 1 November 2026
- Cite this page
- Labour Lens, "Is Portwest ethical? Labour rating", https://www.labourlens.net/brand/portwest, last researched 1 November 2026, accessed [date].
- Method
- Researched with AI assistance against published rules. How we check · What Lacks transparency means
Something missing or wrong?
Grades are opinions based on the evidence listed here. Send us evidence, or a right of reply if you represent Portwest.