The Good Guys
Lacks transparency. Publishes some details, but doesn't show its workers are paid and treated fairly.
Last researched 3 November 2026 · 3 sources
Australian appliance and electronics chain.
There's no proof The Good Guys pays more than the legal minimum, which in China is below a living wage, and it has no full independent audit.
Better-graded appliances
Graded higher than The Good Guys, selling the same kinds of things.
Know something we've missed? Send evidence. Represent The Good Guys? Send a right of reply.
Compare The Good Guys with another brand
Why it's graded Lacks transparency
- Not met: Meets 2 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 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 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
- 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 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
These are JB Hi-Fi's countries across all its brands; The Good Guys doesn't say where its own products are made. The rest is shown as where homewares and appliances are usually made.
| Country | Worker rights | Legal minimum wage | Forced labour risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| China | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Moderate |
| Vietnam | Systematic violations | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
| Malaysia | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Moderate |
| IndiaUsual for the industry | No guarantee of rights | Well below a living wage | High |
| PolandUsual for the industry | Regular violations | Close to a living wage | Moderate |
| New Zealand | Strong protections | About a living wage | Low |
| Taiwan | Strong protections | Close to a living wage | Low |
| IndonesiaUsual for the industry | No guarantee of rights | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
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 The Good Guys sells appliances and electronics made by other brands; no own-brand range is disclosed. Parent JB Hi-Fi's FY2025 statement covers it: a watchlist of 73 higher-risk supplier factories had no forced, child or bonded labour findings, but one China appliance factory averaged 62 hours a week (58 after action). The group also learned of modern slavery reports at a Malaysian component maker used by two of its suppliers, which reportedly stopped using it. Countries shown are those the group's statement names across its mapped final assembly sites (46 countries, not exhaustive), not a split for this brand; no factory list or living wage figures are published.
What independent sources say
| Source | Result | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Australian Modern Slavery Register | Listed | Covered by JB Hi-Fi Limited's FY2025 joint statement, which keeps a watchlist of 73 higher-risk supplier factories and reported no forced, child or bonded labour findings. View |
| News reporting and NGO investigations | Listed | Monash University's 2024 review of modern slavery disclosure rated parent JB Hi-Fi's statement A. View |
| Baptist World Aid Ethical Fashion Report | Not covered | Not assessed in Baptist World Aid's Ethical Fashion Report (2024) or Electronics Industry Report (ended 2016), which do not cover appliance retailers. (2024 edition; latest is 2026) View |
Sources and actions
Sources 3
Show all 3 sources
- JB Hi-Fi Limited - Good Shopping Guide (ethical.org.au) · search the archive · Monash 2024 modern slavery disclosure grade A for JB Hi-Fi group
- JB Hi-Fi completes acquisition of The Good Guys (ChannelNews) · search the archive · JB Hi-Fi acquired The Good Guys in 2016
Published by The Good Guys or its owner
- JB Hi-Fi Limited Modern Slavery Statement 2025 · search the archive · Covers The Good Guys; 73-factory watchlist, no priority findings; China appliance factory hours 62 to 58; Malaysian component maker reports
Company details
- Owned by
- JB Hi-Fi Limited (ASX: JBH)
- Headquarters
- Australia
- Last researched
- 3 November 2026
- Cite this page
- Labour Lens, "Is The Good Guys ethical? Labour rating", https://www.labourlens.net/brand/the-good-guys, 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 The Good Guys.