Toshiba
Lacks transparency. Publishes some details, but doesn't show its workers are paid and treated fairly.
Based on what Toshiba publishes, with few independent checks. It doesn't say where its products are made, so we use where its industry usually makes them. Researched with AI assistance against published rules. Last researched 2 November 2026 · 7 sources · How we check
Japanese brand used on Hisense-made TVs and Midea-made home appliances.
A 2020 Australian Strategic Policy Institute report linked Toshiba's supply chain to forced labour, and we couldn't confirm where it makes most of its Licensed TVs and home appliances.
Also worth knowing
Most electronics are made in countries such as China and Vietnam, where pay is usually below a living wage.
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Why it's graded Lacks transparency
Meets 0 of 6 Good requirements, with 4 red flags.Open why it has this gradeClose why it has this grade
- Not met: Meets 0 of 6 Good requirements.
- Holds the grade back: It has 4 red flags, 3 of which set the grade: no evidence of a living wage, a hidden, unaudited supply chain, probably in high-risk countries and forced or child labour. Two or more red flags means a poor grade.
- It isn't Harm on record: the most serious problem on its record (forced labour link, last recorded in 2019) is more than 5 years old.
- 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 0 of 6
- Not met: Pays a living wage, or holds a strong fair-pay certificationLiving wage: no evidence
- Not met: Respects worker rightsWhere electronics are usually made, such as China and Malaysia, 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
- Not 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 4
- Red flag: No evidence it pays a living wage
- Red flag: Hidden supply chain, probably mostly in countries with poor worker rights
- Red flag: Forced, slave or child labour found in or linked to its supply chain
- Red flag: Relies on high-risk mined materials it can't traceShown to explain the grade. It isn't one of the 3 red flags that set it.
- 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
Where its industry usually makes its goods: China 55%, Vietnam 15%, Taiwan 10% and 3 more countries.Open where it's madeClose where it's made
We couldn't confirm where Toshiba makes most of its products, so this shows where electronics are usually made.
| Country | Share | Worker rights | Legal minimum wage | Forced labour risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| China | 55% | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Moderate |
| Vietnam | 15% | Systematic violations | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
| Taiwan | 10% | Strong protections | Close to a living wage | Low |
| Malaysia | 8% | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Moderate |
| South Korea | 7% | No guarantee of rights | Close to a living wage | Low |
| India | 5% | No guarantee of rights | Well below a living wage | High |
Evidence
1 confirmed issue, 1 unconfirmed report, 2 things we found and what 2 independent sources say.Open the evidenceClose the 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 Toshiba-branded TVs and appliances in Australia are not made by Toshiba: Hisense makes the TVs in its own plants and Midea makes the appliances. Neither licensee discloses which factories or countries make Toshiba-branded goods for Australia, and Toshiba's own modern slavery statement excludes these businesses. Hisense's group factories are mainly in China, Mexico, Slovenia and South Africa; Midea's are mainly in China. There is no supplier list, living wage commitment or published audit result for Toshiba-branded consumer goods.
What independent sources say
| Source | Result | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Australian Modern Slavery Register | Statement filed | Toshiba Corporation lodges modern slavery statements on the Australian register, but they exclude the sold TV, PC and home appliance businesses that now make Toshiba-branded consumer goods. View |
| Business & Human Rights Resource Centre | Problem found | Lists Toshiba among 83 brands ASPI linked in 2020 to factories using transferred Uyghur workers. 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? |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Link through a supplierThe Australian Strategic Policy Institute named Toshiba among 83 brands linked to Chinese factories using Uyghur workers transferred from Xinjiang in conditions strongly suggesting forced labour; no Toshiba factory was named in coverage of the report (ASPI via BHRRC, 2020). Source · search the archive | Not knownNo response from Toshiba is recorded in BHRRC's coverage of the report. |
Unconfirmed reports
Credible reports that haven't been confirmed by a regulator, completed investigation or the company. They're shown for your information and don't affect the grade.
- The Bureau of Investigative Journalism reported that factories run by Midea, which makes Toshiba home appliances, took part in China's Uyghur labour transfer programme; Midea did not respond (TBIJ, 2025). Source
Sources and actions
7 sources, company details, and how to send evidence or a right of reply.Open the sources and company detailsClose the sources and company details
Sources 7
Show all 7 sources
- Major brands implicated in report on forced labour beyond Xinjiang (BHRRC, 2020) · search the archive · ASPI 2020 report lists Toshiba, Sharp, Hisense and Electrolux among 83 brands
- Hisense cuts major Toshiba TV deal with The Good Guys (ChannelNews, 2021) · search the archive · Hisense owns Toshiba Visual Solutions and the TV brand licence for 40 years; Toshiba TVs made in Hisense plants and sold at The Good Guys stores
- Why bother with Toshiba appliances (ChannelNews, 2019) · search the archive · Midea bought 80% of Toshiba's appliance business in 2016 with a brand licence to 2056; Toshiba does not make the goods
- China's economy runs on Uyghur forced labour (TBIJ, 2025) · search the archive · Factories run by Midea took part in the Uyghur labour transfer programme; Midea did not respond
- Toshiba appliances return to Australia (Appliance Retailer, 2019) · search the archive · Ayonz to distribute Toshiba fridges, washers, dishwashers and microwaves in Australia from 2020
- Who makes Hisense TVs and where are they built? (SlashGear) · search the archive · Hisense TV factories in China, Mexico, Slovenia and South Africa
Published by Toshiba or its owner
- Toshiba Group Modern Slavery Statement FY2023 · search the archive · Group statement; 13,014 suppliers surveyed; scope excludes sold HVAC, TV, PC and home appliance businesses
Company details
- Owned by
- Toshiba Corporation (Japan); TVs licensed to Hisense, home appliances to Midea Group (China)
- Headquarters
- Japan
- Last researched
- 2 November 2026
- Cite this page
- Labour Lens, "Is Toshiba ethical? Labour rating", https://www.labourlens.net/brand/toshiba, last researched 2 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 Toshiba.
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