Overview of SA8000

In 1997, Social Accountability International (SAI) was established and convened an expert, international, multi-stakeholder, Advisory Board to partner in developing standards and systems to address workers¡¯ rights. Representatives of trade unions, human rights organizations, academia, retailers, manufacturers, contractors, as well as consulting, accounting, and certification firms, by consensus, cooperated to develop the Social Accountability 8000 (SA8000) Standard. Published in late 1997 and revised in 2001, the SA8000 Standard and verification system is a credible, comprehensive and efficient tool for assuring humane workplaces. The SA8000 system includes: 

• Factory-level management system requirements for ongoing compliance and continual improvement.
  
• Independent, expert verification of compliance by certification bodies accredited by Social Accountability Accreditation Services (SAAS).
  
• Involvement by stakeholders including participation by all key sectors in the SA8000 system: workers, trade unions, companies, socially responsible investors, nongovernmental organizations and government.
  
• Public reporting on SA8000 certified facilities and Corporate Involvement Program (CIP) annual progress reports through postings on the SAAS and SAI websites.
  
• Harnessing consumer and investor concern through the SA8000 Certification and Corporate Involvement Program by helping to identify and support companies that are committed to assuring human rights in the workplace.
  
• Training partnerships for workers, managers, auditors and other interested parties in effective use of SA8000. 
  
• Research and publication of Guidance in the effective use of SA8000.
  
• Complaints, appeals and surveillance processes to support the system¡¯s quality.
  

SA8000 Elements
The SA8000 Standard is an auditable certification standard based on international workplace norms of International Labour Organisation (ILO) conventions, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. The SA8000 Standard is available for download in various languages. A summary of the Standard elements follows:

1. Child Labor: No workers under the age of 15; minimum lowered to 14 for countries operating under the ILO Convention 138 developing-country exception; remediation of any child found to be working
2. Forced Labor: No forced labor, including prison or debt bondage labor; no lodging of deposits or identity papers by employers or outside recruiters
3. Health and Safety: Provide a safe and healthy work environment; take steps to prevent injuries; regular health and safety worker training; system to detect threats to health and safety; access to bathrooms and potable water
4. Freedom of Association and Right to Collective Bargaining: Respect the right to form and join trade unions and bargain collectively; where law prohibits these freedoms, facilitate parallel means of association and bargaining
5. Discrimination: No discrimination based on race, caste, origin, religion, disability, gender, sexual orientation, union or political affiliation, or age; no sexual harassment
6. Discipline: No corporal punishment, mental or physical coercion or verbal abuse
7. Working Hours: Comply with the applicable law but, in any event, no more than 48 hours per week with at least one day off for every seven day period; voluntary overtime paid at a premium rate and not to exceed 12 hours per week on a regular basis; overtime may be mandatory if part of a collective bargaining agreement
8. Compensation: Wages paid for a standard work week must meet the legal and industry standards and be sufficient to meet the basic need of workers and their families; no disciplinary deductions
9. Management Systems: Facilities seeking to gain and maintain certification must go beyond simple compliance to integrate the standard into their management systems and practices.

SA8000 Implementation 
Organizations have two options for SA8000 implementation: certification to SA8000 and participation in the Corporate Involvement Program (CIP).

Certification to SA8000: Certification is the process by which facilities submit to an independent audit against the SA8000 Standard.  If a facility meets the Standard, it will earn a certificate attesting to its social accountability policies, management, and operations. Companies that operate production facilities can seek to have individual facilities certified to SA8000 through audits by one of the accredited certification bodies.  SA8000 certification is conducted by organizations accredited and overseen by Social Accountability Accreditation Services (SAAS).  Please visit the SAAS certification page for further information on this process.  Both certified and accredited organizations undergo semi-annual review and revisits.

For an overview and complete list of SA8000 Certified Facilities please visit the SAAS Certified Facilities page.

SA8000 Corporate Programs: Companies that focus on selling goods or combine production and selling can join the SA8000 Corporate Program. Corporate Programs is a three-level program that helps companies evaluate SA8000, implement the SA8000 Standard, and report publicly on implementation progress.  There are three levels of the Corporate Programs:

• Supporting (Level One): Evaluate SA8000 as an ethical sourcing tool via pilot audits. 
• Explorer (Level Two): Implement SA8000 as a step-wise approach in some or all of the supply chain through certification and communicate implementation progress to stakeholders via SAI-verified public reporting.
• Signatory (Level Three): Implement SA8000 as a step-wise approach in some or all of the supply chain through certification and communicate implementation progress to stakeholders via SAI-verified public reporting.

Launched in 1999, our Corporate Programs have attracted entities representing more than $100 billion in annual revenue including such current members as Cutter & Buck, Dole, Eileen Fisher, Otto, Toys ¡°R¡± Us. Program benefits include training courses for managers, suppliers and workers, technical assistance in implementing SA8000, and the right to use the SAI and SA8000 logos to communicate with stakeholders. For more detailed information and a full list of current members, visit our Corporate Program page.

Benefits of SA8000
Initial evidence indicates that SA8000 certified facilities enjoy a competitive advantage and workers experience concrete benefits as the SA8000 management system and any needed  corrective actions are put in place.

Benefits for Workers, Trade Unions and NGOs:

• Enhanced opportunities to organize trade unions and bargain collectively. 
• A tool to educate workers about core labor rights. 
• An opportunity to work directly with business on labor rights issues. 
• A way to generate public awareness of companies committed to assuring humane working conditions.

Benefits for Business:

• Drives company values into action. 
• Enhances company and brand reputation. 
• Improves employee recruitment, retention and productivity. 
• Supports better supply chain management and performance.

Benefits for Consumers and Investors:

• Clear and credible assurance for ethical purchasing decisions. 
• Identification of ethically made products and companies committed to ethical sourcing. 
• Broad coverage of product categories and production geography.