SA-8000 Standard and why it is important

What is the SA8000 Standard?

SA-8000 is a social accountability standard that was created to promote fair and ethical treatment of workers in the global supply chain. The standard was developed by Social Accountability International (SAI), an organization that aims to advance human rights and labor conditions around the world.

Today, the SA8000 Standard is one of the most important global certifications for social standards in supply chains. Available for companies of all sizes and all industries, the standards provide companies with a framework based on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and International Labour Organization (ILO) conventions.
The standard is internationally recognized and covers more than 2 million workers across the world.

Structure of the SA8000

The SA8000 certification is divided into nine areas of competences. The different elements are the following:

Child labor‍
Companies must not use child labor (defined as workers under the age of 15), and they must provide appropriate protections and support for workers who are young or legally allowed to work.
Forced and compulsory labor
Companies must not use forced labor, including indentured labor, bonded labor, or human trafficking.
Health and safety
Companies must provide a safe and healthy work environment for all workers, including appropriate training, protective equipment, and access to medical care.
Freedom of Association and Right to collective bargaining
Workers must be allowed to join unions and engage in collective bargaining.
Discrimination
Companies must not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, religion, or other protected categories.
Disciplinary practices
Companies must not use corporal punishment, mental or physical coercion, or any other abusive disciplinary practices.
Working hours
Companies must comply with applicable laws and industry standards regarding working hours, overtime, and rest breaks.
Remuneration
Management System

Last updated in 2014 with the SA8000:2014, the certification improves and adapts to the new challenges offered by today’s world. The SA8000:2014 introduces the Social Fingerprint, a tool developed to support companies with the continuous improvement of their social performance

This new management system is based on the following categories:

Policies, procedures and records
Social performance team
Identification and assessment of risks
Monitoring
Internal Involvement and communication
Complaint management and resolution
External verification and stakeholder engagement
Corrective and preventative actions
Training and capacity building
Management of suppliers and contractors

The companies still following the former update, the SA8000:2008, have until the end of 2017 to update their framework to the newest stand.

Certification process

The SA8000 certification process takes place in four steps:

Pass an online self-assessment with Social Fingerprint Self-Assessment to estimate your current completion with the social standard requirements
Contact one of the twenty SAAS-accredited certification body for a full evaluation process
The certification body will then review your documentation, working practices, employee interview responses and operation records
If the audit is successful, you will be granted the SA8000 certification.If not, you will be handed improvement requests for the next certification audit.

The certified companies are continuously monitored through announced and unannounced visits twice a year. The standard has a validity of three years with the possibility to renew the certification after this period of time.

SA-8000 Standard

What is the SA8000 Standard?

Structure of the SA8000

Certification process

Arrange a call

We'll talk about:

Or Learn more