Lacks transparency. Publishes some details, but doesn't show its workers are paid and treated fairly.
Last researched 3 November 2026 · 6 sources
Japanese audio brand selling hi-fi components, speakers and budget TVs.
Until TEAC 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 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 countries such as China and Malaysia, 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: Traces its cobalt, gold and other conflict minerals to the mine
Red flags 3
- Red flag: No evidence it pays a living wage
- Red flag: Hidden supply chain, mostly in countries with poor worker rights
- 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
These are its parent group's countries across all its brands; TEAC doesn't say where its own products are made. The rest is shown as where electronics are usually made.
| Country | Worker rights | Legal minimum wage | Forced labour risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| China | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Moderate |
| Japan | Strong protections | Close to a living wage | Low |
| VietnamUsual for the industry | Systematic violations | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
| TaiwanUsual for the industry | Strong protections | Close to a living wage | Low |
| MalaysiaUsual for the industry | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Moderate |
| South KoreaUsual for the industry | No guarantee of rights | Close to a living wage | Low |
| IndiaUsual for the industry | No guarantee of rights | Well below a living wage | High |
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.
- 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 TEAC Corporation lists manufacturing subsidiaries in Dongguan, China, and Ome, Japan, but gives no shares or factory lists. TEAC-branded TVs and audio sold in Australia came from licensee TEAC Australia, whose products were not made by TEAC Japan and whose factories were never named; it was wound up in 2024. Neither company publishes a supplier list or modern slavery statement, reports supplier audits or makes a living wage commitment.
Sources and actions
Sources 6
Show all 6 sources
- TEAC placed into administration again (ChannelNews, May 2024) · search the archive · TEAC Australia Pty Ltd placed into administration in 2024; business sold to Singaporean interests in 2007
- Klipsch distributor snares Teac and Esoteric audio brands (ChannelNews, April 2021) · search the archive · TEAC TVs and some audio distributed in Australia by TTA Holdings, sold through online retailers such as Catch
- TEAC corporate profile · search the archive · TEAC group manufacturing subsidiaries include TEAC Manufacturing Solutions (Ome, Japan) and Dongguan TEAC Electronics (China)
- TTA Holdings announces subsidiary wind up (TipRanks, April 2024) · search the archive · TEAC Australia to cease e-commerce; resolution passed to wind it up
- SmartHouse: TEAC Australia licence · search the archive · TEAC Australia (owned by TT International) claimed a 20-year licence to the name; its products were not designed or made by TEAC Japan
- TEAC deals (OzBargain) · search the archive · TEAC speakers sold online in Australia via MyDeal, Big W Market and Amazon AU (2023-2025)
Company details
- Owned by
- TEAC Corporation (Tokyo-listed); Australian range from licensee TEAC Australia (TTA Holdings)
- Headquarters
- Japan
- Last researched
- 3 November 2026
- Cite this page
- Labour Lens, "Is TEAC ethical? Labour rating", https://www.labourlens.net/brand/teac, last researched 3 November 2026, accessed [date].
- Method
- Researched with AI assistance against published rules. How we check · What Lacks transparency means
Other TV and audio brands
Nothing we've rated in TV and audio is better than Lacks transparency yet.
Something missing or wrong?
Grades are opinions based on the evidence listed here. Send us evidence, or a right of reply if you represent TEAC.