Labour Lens

Saeco

Lacks transparency

Lacks transparency. Publishes some details, but doesn't show its workers are paid and treated fairly.

Homewares, furniture & appliances

Partly verified: what this means

Last researched 3 November 2026 · 5 sources

Italian brand of bean-to-cup espresso machines.

There's no proof Saeco pays more than the legal minimum, which in Romania 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.

How grades are decided

Good requirements 3 of 6

  • Not met: Pays a living wage, or holds a strong fair-pay certificationLiving wage: no evidence
  • Met: Respects worker rights
  • 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
  • Met: High-risk raw materials (such as timber and cotton) traced or certified, or not a major part of its rangeNone recorded in a major share of its range

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

Accreditations 1

Where it's made

From press and retailer reports; Saeco doesn't say where its products are made. The rest is shown as where homewares and appliances are usually made.

Where it's made, and conditions there
CountryWorker rightsLegal minimum wageForced labour risk
ItalyStrong protectionsClose to a living wageLow
RomaniaRegular violationsBelow a living wageModerate
ChinaUsual for the industryNo guarantee of rightsBelow a living wageModerate
VietnamUsual for the industrySystematic violationsWell below a living wageModerate
IndiaUsual for the industryNo guarantee of rightsWell below a living wageHigh
PolandUsual for the industryRegular violationsClose to a living wageModerate
IndonesiaUsual for the industryNo guarantee of rightsWell below a living wageModerate
MalaysiaUsual for the industryNo guarantee of rightsBelow a living wageModerate

Evidence

What we found

  • No high-risk raw materials (such as timber and cotton) are recorded in a major share of its range, so the raw-material check doesn't hold it back for Good.
  • Modern slavery statement

Research notes Versuni makes appliances in its own factories in Italy, Romania, Brazil, India and China and through suppliers, but does not say which plants make Saeco machines; in 2016 Philips was moving Saeco models from Gaggio Montano, Italy, to its plant in Orastie, Romania. Versuni is a Responsible Business Alliance member, audits high-risk suppliers and reported no forced or child labour findings in 2024, but publishes no supplier list or living wage commitment. Saeco professional machines are a separate business owned by Evoca Group.

What independent sources say

SourceResultDetails
Baptist World Aid Ethical Fashion ReportNot coveredBaptist World Aid does not rate appliance or espresso machine makers; its Electronics Industry Report ended in 2016. View
Business & Human Rights Resource CentreUnclearNo labour abuse allegations involving Saeco home machines or Versuni suppliers have been recorded. View

Sources and actions

Sources 5

Show all 5 sources
  1. La crisi del caffe Saeco: Philips taglia 243 lavoratori (Linkiesta, 2016) · search the archive · In 2016 Saeco models were moving from Gaggio Montano to the Orastie plant in Romania; Gaggio kept design and top range
  2. Saeco - Coffee Makers (New Coffee Italia) · search the archive · Australian online retailer sells new Saeco Incanto home machines in AUD
  3. Saeco (Wikipedia) · search the archive · Founded 1981 in Gaggio Montano; owned by Philips from 2009; domestic division now Versuni; professional arm sold to Evoca in 2017

Published by Saeco or its owner

  1. Versuni Modern Slavery and Human Rights Statement 2024 · search the archive · Markets Saeco; own factories in Brazil, Italy, Romania, India, China; RBA member; no forced or child labour found in 2024 audits; about 5,900 staff
  2. Saeco Xelsis super-automatic espresso machine (Philips home appliances) · search the archive · Saeco Xelsis sold by Versuni under the Philips home appliances site

Company details

Headquarters
Italy
Last researched
3 November 2026
Cite this page
Labour Lens, "Is Saeco ethical? Labour rating", https://www.labourlens.net/brand/saeco, last researched 3 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?

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