Seiko
Lacks transparency. Publishes some details, but doesn't show its workers are paid and treated fairly.
Last researched 3 November 2026 · 3 sources
Tokyo watchmaker selling quartz, solar and mechanical watches.
Until Seiko traces its gold and gemstones to the mine, it can't show that the miners who dig them are safe or fairly paid.
Better-graded watches
Graded higher than Seiko, selling the same kinds of things.
No watches brand selling new goods is Good yet. These are the strongest so far.
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Why it's graded Lacks transparency
- Not met: Meets 1 of 6 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 underpaid or unprotected.
Good requirements 1 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 China and Thailand, 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 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
- Not met: Conflict-free: diamonds, gems and gold traced to the mine, lab-grown, recycled or Fairmined (the Kimberley Process alone isn't enough)
Red flags 3
- 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
- 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
Seiko says which countries it makes its products in, but doesn't name the factories.
| Country | Worker rights | Legal minimum wage | Forced labour risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japan | Strong protections | Close to a living wage | Low |
| China | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Moderate |
| Thailand | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Moderate |
Evidence
What we found
- Risk across the industry, not a finding about this company: gold and gemstone mining are linked to child labour, forced labour and mercury poisoning.
- Modern slavery statement
- Relies on gold and gemstones from artisanal mines where workers face mercury poisoning, silica dust and deadly 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 Seiko watches are made by Seiko Watch Corporation in Japan and China and by Seiko Epson in Japan and Thailand, with parts from suppliers in Japan, China, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam and Hong Kong; no shares by country are given. Seiko Group's procurement guidelines follow the RBA Code of Conduct, suppliers must pass a self-assessment questionnaire before Seiko Watch buys from them, and high-risk suppliers are interviewed. It belongs to the JaCER grievance platform, but publishes no supplier list, independent audit results or living wage commitment.
What independent sources say
| Source | Result | Details |
|---|---|---|
| UK Modern Slavery Statement Registry | Listed | Seiko UK Ltd publishes a yearly Modern Slavery Act statement (latest for the year to March 2026, signed September 2026); it names production in Japan, China and Thailand and reports no cases. View |
| Business & Human Rights Resource Centre | Unclear | Business & Human Rights Resource Centre company profile lists no allegations and no response requests for Seiko. View |
Sources and actions
Sources 3
Show all 3 sources
- Seiko - Business & Human Rights Resource Centre · search the archive · Company profile shows no allegations and no response requests.
Published by Seiko or its owner
- Seiko - Modern Slavery Act Transparency Statement · search the archive · Seiko UK statement to March 2026: watches made by Seiko Watch Corp (Japan, China) and Seiko Epson (Japan, Thailand); supplier SAQ certification.
- Seiko Group - Supply chain management · search the archive · Procurement guidelines based on RBA Code v8.0; SAQ of about 180 suppliers in FY2024; JaCER grievance membership; mineral sourcing policy.
Company details
- Headquarters
- Japan
- Last researched
- 3 November 2026
- Cite this page
- Labour Lens, "Is Seiko ethical? Labour rating", https://www.labourlens.net/brand/seiko, 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 Seiko.