Lacks transparency. Publishes some details, but doesn't show its workers are paid and treated fairly.
Last researched 2 November 2026 · 5 sources
Australian budget underwear and sock label.
Rio can't show that the workers who make its products in Bangladesh and Indonesia earn a living wage, which workers there are very unlikely to.
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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 Bangladesh, China and Indonesia.
- 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
- 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: High-risk raw materials (cotton) traced or certified, or not a major part of its rangeNot traced or certified: cotton
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 Hanes Australasia's supplier list, which covers Rio and its sister brands. Rio publishes no breakdown of its own, so the countries shown are the group's.
| Country | Worker rights | Legal minimum wage | Forced labour risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | Strong protections | About a living wage | Low |
| Bangladesh | No guarantee of rights | Far below a living wage | Moderate |
| China | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Moderate |
| Denmark | Strong protections | About a living wage | Low |
| Indonesia | No guarantee of rights | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
| India | No guarantee of rights | Well below a living wage | High |
| Cambodia | No guarantee of rights | Far below a living wage | Moderate |
| Pakistan | No guarantee of rights | Far below a living wage | High |
| Portugal | Strong protections | Close to a living wage | Low |
| Thailand | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Moderate |
| Türkiye | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Very high |
| Vietnam | Systematic violations | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
Evidence
What we found
- Modern slavery statement
- Publishes supplier list
- Independent social audits of all its main factories
- Signed the International Accord on garment factory safety Source
- 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 Rio is a budget underwear and sock label of Hanes Australasia, sold mainly in multipacks through Bonds outlets and online resellers; it publishes no label-specific factory information. Hanes Australasia's 2025 statement covers about 81 facilities in 12 countries (Australia, Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Denmark, India, Indonesia, Pakistan, Portugal, Thailand, Turkey and Vietnam), with independent audits and Accord membership, but gives no country shares and no evidence that workers earn a living wage. Gildan sold the business to Brett Blundy's BBFIT Investments in October 2026, so its labour policies may change.
What independent sources say
| Source | Result | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Baptist World Aid Ethical Fashion Report | Listed | Listed under HanesBrands Australia (Hanes Australasia), whose then-owner Hanesbrands Inc scored 61 out of 100 in the 2026 Ethical Fashion Report (average 31.5), after 64 in 2024. View |
| Australian Modern Slavery Register | Listed | HBI Holdings Australasia 2025 modern slavery statement lists Rio as a brand; goods from about 81 facilities in 12 countries; 109 audits; takes part in the International Accord; no per-country shares or living wage data. View |
Sources and actions
Sources 5
Show all 5 sources
- Shop Ethical: Hanes Australasia (Bonds, Rio) · search the archive · 2026 Ethical Fashion Report: Hanes Australasia (Bonds, Rio and others) 61/100; average 31.5; Rio listed as a brand
- Gildan Completes Sale of HanesBrands Australia (BNN Bloomberg) · search the archive · 26 Oct 2026: Gildan completed the sale of HanesBrands Australia to BBFIT Investments for about A$700 million
- OzBargain: Rio · search the archive · Rio briefs, trunks and socks sold through Bonds warehouse and outlet sales and online resellers
Published by Rio or its owner
- Hanes Australasia Modern Slavery Statement 2025 · search the archive · Rio named in brand portfolio; about 81 facilities in 12 countries; 109 audits; International Accord participant; no living wage data
- Hanes Australasia Modern Slavery Statement 2024 · search the archive · Rio named in brand portfolio; 98% of goods from eight named countries
Company details
- Headquarters
- Australia
- Last researched
- 2 November 2026
- Cite this page
- Labour Lens, "Is Rio ethical? Labour rating", https://www.labourlens.net/brand/rio, last researched 2 November 2026, accessed [date].
- Method
- Researched with AI assistance against published rules. How we check · What Lacks transparency means
Better-graded underwear and sleepwear
Something missing or wrong?
Grades are opinions based on the evidence listed here. Send us evidence, or a right of reply if you represent Rio.