Lacks transparency. Publishes some details, but doesn't show its workers are paid and treated fairly.
Last researched 2 November 2026 · 5 sources
Sydney maker of microphones and podcasting consoles.
Until RØDE traces its cobalt, gold and tin to the mine, it can't show that the miners who dig them are safe or fairly paid.
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Why it's graded Lacks transparency
- Not met: Meets 5 of 7 Good requirements.
- Holds the grade back: It relies on high-risk mined materials it can't trace. That alone means a poor grade until it takes steps to trace them.
- 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 unprotected.
Good requirements 5 of 7
- Met: Pays a living wage, or holds a strong fair-pay certificationLiving wage: presumed because legal wages in Australia are about a living wage, not checked at the company
- Met: Respects worker rights
- Met: Supply chain independently audited or certified, or at least 80% made in countries with strong labour standardsPresumed from where it's made, not audited
- Not met: Shows where its earlier production stages happen, not just the final oneA "Made in" claim can cover only the final stage. Earlier stages to show: components such as circuit boards, displays and batteries
- 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 listMakes its products in its own factories
- Not met: Traces its cobalt, gold and other conflict minerals to the mine
Red flags 1
- Red flag: Relies on high-risk mined materials it can't trace
- 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
From RØDE's own disclosure: it makes its products in its own factories.
| Country | Worker rights | Legal minimum wage | Forced labour risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | Strong protections | About 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.
- Owns or runs its own production
- "Made in Australia" only means the last major stage happened there: under customs and consumer law, components such as circuit boards, displays and batteries can be made elsewhere. It hasn't shown where those earlier stages happen, so where it's made counts towards On Track but not Good. Source
- 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 RØDE says its products are designed and made in its own precision facilities in Silverwater, Sydney, using heavily automated machinery and in-house toolmaking, and several products carry the Australian Made logo. Factory staff work under Australian award wages and Fair Work protections. It publishes no supplier list or modern slavery statement and gives no detail on imported components such as chips.
Sources and actions
Sources 5
Show all 5 sources
- RØDE Microphones products (Australian Made) · search the archive · RØDE is an Australian Made licensee for products including the NT1 and Wireless GO II
- Not dead yet: RØDE and Blackmagic on building advanced tech in Australia (Forbes Australia, 2023) · search the archive · Silverwater factory; everything made in-house in Australia; heavy automation
- RØDE Wireless GO Gen 3 - Mega Music · search the archive · RØDE products sold by Australian music retailer Mega Music
Published by RØDE or its owner
- Who We Are (RØDE) · search the archive · Products designed and made at its Sydney HQ; over 800 staff; part of The Freedman Group with Mackie, APHEX, Event, SoundField
- Wireless GO III datasheet (RØDE) · search the archive · Designed and made in RØDE's precision facilities in Sydney, Australia
Company details
- Owned by
- Freedman Electronics (The Freedman Group, which also owns Mackie, APHEX, Event and SoundField)
- Headquarters
- Australia
- Employees
- About 800
- Last researched
- 2 November 2026
- Cite this page
- Labour Lens, "Is RØDE ethical? Labour rating", https://www.labourlens.net/brand/rode, last researched 2 November 2026, accessed [date].
- Method
- Researched with AI assistance against published rules. How we check · What Lacks transparency means
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Grades are opinions based on the evidence listed here. Send us evidence, or a right of reply if you represent RØDE.