SA 8000
What is SA 8000?
- It is the first global ethical standard and aims at securing ethical work conditions. SA 8000 is the leading Social Certification Standard for factories and organizations across the globe. It ensures ethical sourcing and production of goods and services and the highest quality of social compliance.
- Established by Social Accountability International in 1997, it measures social performance across eight areas important to social accountability at workplaces.
- This is anchored by a quality management system that drives improvement in all these areas.
Who Needs this Standard?
- It is applicable to all companies regardless of scale, industry and location.
- A retailer, wholesaler, brand company or sourcing agent participating in a Corporate Involvement Program.
- A vendor seeking socially responsible suppliers.
- Organizations big and small that recognize the multi-sector applicability of this Standard.
- Governments who wish to strengthen their social performance.
Why should I carry this Standard ?
This standard protects the workers from differentiation based on race, religion, origin, caste, gender, political association, and many other factors.
Why You Need this Certification?
- To develop and implement effective labour practices.
- Enhance long term relationships between the company and its stakeholders.
- Achieve international standard and enhance credibility.
- Generate positive sentiment for the company and its products.
- Reduce the number of second party audits of suppliers.
Essence of this Standard
- This Standard reflects labour provisions contained within the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Rights of a Child and International Labour Organization and complements labour laws.
- As in the cases of ISO 9000 quality management system and ISO 14000 environmental management system, SA 8000 provides a framework for independent assessment by a third party certification body.
- SA 8000 includes a set of social accountability standards and a guidance document.
- Through continuous assessment, it provides the companies with a system for continuous improvement.
Elements of this Standard
How long does it take to get this implemented?
SA8000 requires suppliers to allow at least one day of rest following six consecutive days of work. And the normal work week should not exceed 48 hours. The standard also sets requirements for overtime. Suppliers must make overtime voluntary, and overtime cannot exceed 12 hours per week.
Advantage SA 8000
- More demand and value for goods from socially responsible manufacturers/suppliers.
- Enhancement of company productivity.
- Improvement of relationship with the Govt., NGOs, trade unions.
- Better image and position in labour market.
- Better corporate image.
- Increased value for the products.
- Trust building with the analysts and investors when evaluated against social performance.
