Samsonite
Lacks transparency. Publishes some details, but doesn't show its workers are paid and treated fairly.
Last researched 3 November 2026 · 7 sources
World's largest luggage company.
Samsonite can't show that the workers who make its products in Bangladesh and the Dominican Republic earn a living wage, which workers there are very unlikely to.
Also worth knowing
It has no full independent audit.
Better-graded bags and accessories
Graded higher than Samsonite, selling the same kinds of things. Second-hand first.
Second-hand and refurbished goods create no new factory work, so they're Good by rule and come first.
Know something we've missed? Send evidence. Represent Samsonite? Send a right of reply.
Compare Samsonite with another brand
Why it's graded Lacks transparency
- Not met: Meets 2 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: the most serious problem on its record (forced labour, last recorded in 2025) was found by its own checks and is being fixed.
- 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.
- Checks its own supply chain. Samsonite looks for problems in its own supply chain and publishes what it finds. It found forced labour in 2025 and is fixing it, so it doesn't count against the grade. It's listed below under Confirmed issues.
Good requirements 2 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 Bangladesh and China, 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 it isn't fixingIts own checks found forced labour, which it is fixing. That's listed below and doesn't count against the grade.
- 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 cotton and leather) traced or certified, or not a major part of its rangeNone recorded in a major share of its range
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
Samsonite says which countries it makes its products in, but doesn't name the factories.
| Country | Worker rights | Legal minimum wage | Forced labour risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bangladesh | No guarantee of rights | Far below a living wage | Moderate |
| Belgium | Regular violations | About a living wage | Low |
| China | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Moderate |
| Dominican Republic | Strong protections | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
| Hungary | Systematic violations | Close to a living wage | Moderate |
| 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 |
| Myanmar | No guarantee of rights | Far below a living wage | Very high |
| Philippines | No guarantee of rights | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
| Thailand | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Moderate |
| Taiwan | Strong protections | Close to a living wage | Low |
| Vietnam | Systematic violations | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
Evidence
What we found
- No high-risk raw materials (such as cotton and leather) are recorded in a major share of its range, so the raw-material check doesn't hold it back for Good.
- Modern slavery statement
- Uses little or no cotton (e.g. wool, linen or leather products)
- Makes part of its range in its own factories
Research notes Samsonite makes some luggage in its own factories in Belgium, Hungary and India, but most products come from 206 independent finished-goods suppliers in 19 countries, mainly China, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, India, the Philippines, Indonesia, Myanmar, Bangladesh and Taiwan, plus the Dominican Republic. It gives no shares by country and publishes no factory list. It audited 169 finished-goods factories in 2025 and found migrant workers in Thailand had paid recruitment fees. It has no living wage commitment.
What independent sources say
| Source | Result | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Australian Modern Slavery Register | Listed | Covered by Samsonite Group S.A.'s modern slavery statement for 2025: 169 finished-goods factories and 83 key component factories audited in 2025; Thai recruitment fees found. View |
| UK Modern Slavery Statement Registry | Listed | Samsonite Group publishes an annual UK modern slavery statement; the 2025 statement was approved in March 2026. View |
| Baptist World Aid Ethical Fashion Report | Not listed | Samsonite Group and its brands are not rated in the 2026 Ethical Fashion Report, the latest edition. View |
Confirmed issues 1
Only confirmed problems are listed, and old ones drop off after 10 to 15 years. A problem the company has fully put right no longer counts against it, and nor does one it finds and is fixing itself. How problems are counted
| Last recorded | What happened | Made amends? |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Samsonite Group's 2025 modern slavery statement, covering Samsonite, says migrant workers at some of its suppliers in Thailand had paid recruitment fees to get their jobs. Source · search the archiveFound and being fixed by the company Not counted against the grade while the company is actively fixing it, because it found and published it itself. | PartlySamsonite Group says it worked with suppliers in 2025 to have the fees repaid and endorsed the Employer Pays Principle; amounts repaid are not published. |
Sources and actions
Sources 7
Show all 7 sources
- Ethical Fashion Guide 2026 (Baptist World Aid) · search the archive · 138 companies rated in the 2026 Ethical Fashion Report; Samsonite Group and its brands not listed
- Samsonite Group Modern Slavery Statement 2025 (Australian register) · search the archive · Own factories in BE, HU, IN; third-party factories in 10 Asian countries and Dominican Republic; 2025 audits; Thai recruitment fees
- Samsonite opens flagship at Sydney Airport (Ragtrader) · search the archive · Samsonite runs its own stores in Australia, including Sydney Airport
- Samsonite Social Compliance · search the archive · Unannounced on-site supplier audits plus independent third-party audits
Published by Samsonite or its owner
- Samsonite Modern Slavery Report 2026 (UK) · search the archive · Covers FY2025; Samsonite, Tumi and American Tourister lead brands; no living wage commitment or supplier list
- Hardside Luggage - Samsonite Australia · search the archive · Core range is hardshell (polycarbonate/polypropylene) and synthetic softside luggage, so little cotton is used; sold online in Australia
- Samsonite Group 2025 Report on Our Responsible Journey (ESG report) · search the archive · Finished goods from 206 suppliers in 19 countries; own plants in Belgium, Hungary and India; about 11,500 staff
Company details
- Owned by
- Samsonite Group S.A.
- Employees
- About 11,500
- Last researched
- 3 November 2026
- Cite this page
- Labour Lens, "Is Samsonite ethical? Labour rating", https://www.labourlens.net/brand/samsonite, last researched 3 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 Samsonite.