Lacks transparency. Publishes some details, but doesn't show its workers are paid and treated fairly.
Last researched 2 November 2026 · 6 sources
Australian label selling men's and women's clothing.
There's no proof SABA 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 India.
- 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
China has the largest share, 68%. Vietnam is next, at 28%.
| Country | Share | Worker rights | Legal minimum wage | Forced labour risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| China | 68% | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Moderate |
| Vietnam | 28% | Systematic violations | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
| India | 2% | No guarantee of rights | Well below a living wage | High |
| Indonesia | 2% | No guarantee of rights | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
Evidence
What we found
- Publishes supplier list
- Modern slavery statement
- Independent social audits of all its main factories
- 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 SABA is made by independent suppliers for APG & Co, which publishes one factory list for all its labels: of 57 finished-garment factories, 39 are in China, 16 in Vietnam and one each in India and Indonesia. All Tier 1 factories must have SMETA social audits, and APG reported overtime, underpayment and an underage worker at factories it was vetting, and turned some away. Shares count listed factories. APG scored 52/100 in the 2026 Ethical Fashion Report (average 31.5), but 14 of 25 factories it checked paid only the legal minimum and it has set no date to close the gap. It stopped making in Bangladesh in FY24 and is no longer on the International Accord's signatory list.
What independent sources say
| Source | Result | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Baptist World Aid Ethical Fashion Report | Listed | Owner APG & Co scored 52 out of 100 in the 2026 Ethical Fashion Report (average 31.5), after 49 in 2024. View |
| Australian Modern Slavery Register | Listed | Covered by APG & Co's annual modern slavery statement; the FY25 statement reports 82 Tier 1 factories (49 in China) and SMETA audits for all Tier 1 suppliers. 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.
- Oxfam Australia's 2019 Bangladesh research found none of the garment workers interviewed were paid a living wage; Baptist World Aid lists this against APG & Co, though the findings were not specific to its suppliers (ethical.org.au, 2024). Source
Sources and actions
Sources 6
Show all 6 sources
- APG & Co - Good Shopping Guide (ethical.org.au) · search the archive · 2026 Ethical Fashion Report: APG & Co scored 52/100 (average 31.5)
- International Accord: Signatories (as of 16 October 2026) · search the archive · APG & Co not on the current signatory list; it was listed in April 2023
- SABA - Good On You · search the archive · People rating 2/5 (July 2023): not taking adequate steps to ensure a living wage
- APG & Co Suppliers List 2026 · search the archive · 57 finished-garment factories: China 39, Vietnam 16, India 1, Indonesia 1; union and recent-audit status shown per factory
- APG & Co Living Wage Policy 2025 · search the archive · Three-yearly living wage gap analysis; no dated wage target
Published by SABA or its owner
- APG & Co Modern Slavery Statement FY25 · search the archive · SMETA audits mandatory for Tier 1; overtime, wage and underage-worker findings at prospective suppliers; 56% of 25 sites low living-wage alignment
Company details
- Owned by
- APG & Co
- Headquarters
- Australia
- Last researched
- 2 November 2026
- Cite this page
- Labour Lens, "Is SABA ethical? Labour rating", https://www.labourlens.net/brand/saba, 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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Something missing or wrong?
Grades are opinions based on the evidence listed here. Send us evidence, or a right of reply if you represent SABA.