Social Accountability International (SA8000)

Certification for Ethical Labor Standards in Manufacturing Facilities (SA8000)

For detailed information regarding this standard and certification, please visit: www.SA-Intl.org

Overall Description:

Social Accountability International is an international non-profit human rights organization dedicated to the ethical treatment of workers around the world. SAI’s social standard, called SA8000, functions as a highly effective and expedient system for delivering improved social performance to businesses and their supply chain facilities. The SA8000 solution is designed to ensure compliance with the highest ethical sourcing standards by integrating management tools that serve the needs of workers and businesses alike. SAI also provides training and capacity building for workers, auditors, managers, supply chain managers, labor inspectors, and other participants in global supply chains.

Aim of Standards:

Based on the principles of thirteen international ILO and UN human rights conventions, it is a tool to help apply these norms to practical work-life situations. Sufficiently specific to be used to audit companies and contractors alike in multiple industries and countries, SA8000 represents a major breakthrough: it was the first auditable social standard and creates a process that is truly independent (it is neither a government project, nor dominated by any single interest group). Detailed guidance for implementing or auditing to SA8000 are available from its website.

Certification:

Assessment of compliance to the SA8000 Standard and the issuance of SA8000 certifications is available only through SAAS-accredited, independent organizations.

A facility wishing to seek certification to SA8000 must apply to an SAAS-accredited auditing firm, known as a Certification Body.

Certification under SA8000 is available to any organization. Certified workplaces are required to make public their certification and can display their certificate in a store or a factory, in company advertising, and on company stationary. A public list of certified organizations is also maintained on the SAAS website.