SA8000
Encyclopedia
SA8000 is a global social accountability standard for decent working conditions, developed and overseen by Social Accountability International (SAI). Detailed guidance for implementing or auditing to SA8000 are available from its website. SAI offers training in SA8000 and other workplace standards to managers, workers and auditors. It contracts with a global accreditation agency, Social Accountability Accreditation Services (SAAS) that licences and oversees auditing organisations to award certification to employers that comply with SA8000.
In May 2009 it was verified by SAAS Accreditation that over 1.3 million workers are employed in SA8000 Certified Facilities around the world.
, Convention on the Rights of the Child
and various International Labour Organization
(ILO) conventions. SA8000 covers the following areas of accountability:
There are four basic types of out of pocket costs associated with certification:
SAAS Accreditation maintains a public list of SA8000 certified facilities and statistics.
As of September 30, 2010:
The industrial sectors with the most certifications include apparel and textiles; building materials; agriculture
; construction
; chemicals; cosmetics
; cleaning services and transportation. The countries with the most certification to SA8000 include Brazil
, India
, China
and Italy
.
There are 19 Certification Bodies accredited by SAAS to carry out SA8000 social audits:
"Pricing, products and services are no longer the sole arbiters of commercial success... it is business that must take the lead in taming the global frontier. Business must take the lead in establishing rule of law in emerging markets. Business must take the lead in stopping bribery. Business must take the lead in bringing order to cyberspace. Business must take the lead in ensuring that technology does not split the world into haves and have nots."
In May 2009 it was verified by SAAS Accreditation that over 1.3 million workers are employed in SA8000 Certified Facilities around the world.
Basis
SA8000 is an auditable certification standard based on the UN Universal Declaration of Human RightsUniversal Declaration of Human Rights
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is a declaration adopted by the United Nations General Assembly . The Declaration arose directly from the experience of the Second World War and represents the first global expression of rights to which all human beings are inherently entitled...
, Convention on the Rights of the Child
Convention on the Rights of the Child
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child is a human rights treaty setting out the civil, political, economic, social, health and cultural rights of children...
and various International Labour Organization
International Labour Organization
The International Labour Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations that deals with labour issues pertaining to international labour standards. Its headquarters are in Geneva, Switzerland. Its secretariat — the people who are employed by it throughout the world — is known as the...
(ILO) conventions. SA8000 covers the following areas of accountability:
- Child laborChild laborChild labour refers to the employment of children at regular and sustained labour. This practice is considered exploitative by many international organizations and is illegal in many countries...
: 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. - Forced labor: No forced labor, including prison or debt bondage labor; no lodging of deposits or identity papers by employers or outside recruiters.
- 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.
- Freedom of AssociationFreedom of associationFreedom of association is the individual right to come together with other individuals and collectively express, promote, pursue and defend common interests....
and Right to Collective BargainingCollective bargainingCollective bargaining is a process of negotiations between employers and the representatives of a unit of employees aimed at reaching agreements that regulate working conditions...
: Respect the right to form and join trade unions and bargain collectively; where law prohibits these freedoms, facilitate parallel means of association and bargaining. - DiscriminationDiscriminationDiscrimination is the prejudicial treatment of an individual based on their membership in a certain group or category. It involves the actual behaviors towards groups such as excluding or restricting members of one group from opportunities that are available to another group. The term began to be...
: No discrimination based on race, caste, origin, religion, disability, gender, sexual orientation, union or political affiliation, or age; no sexual harassment. - DisciplineDisciplineIn its original sense, discipline is referred to systematic instruction given to disciples to train them as students in a craft or trade, or to follow a particular code of conduct or "order". Often, the phrase "to discipline" carries a negative connotation. This is because enforcement of order –...
: No corporal punishment, mental or physical coercion or verbal abuse - 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.
- CompensationWageA wage is a compensation, usually financial, received by workers in exchange for their labor.Compensation in terms of wages is given to workers and compensation in terms of salary is given to employees...
: 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. - Management systems for Human Resources: Facilities seeking to gain and maintain certification must go beyond simple compliance to integrate the standard into their management systems and practices.
Certification
A facility wishing to seek certification to SA8000 must apply to a SAAS-accredited auditing firm, or certification body. Assessment of compliance to the SA8000 Standard and the issuance of accredited SA8000 certifications are available only through SAAS-accredited, independent organizations.There are four basic types of out of pocket costs associated with certification:
- The cost associated with taking corrective and preventive action in order to qualify for compliance. After this, an organization would seek verification of its compliance.
- The cost of preparing for the audit.
- The cost of an independent audit by a SAAS-accredited CB.
- The cost associated with taking corrective actions to resolve problems (if nonconformances have been identified).
SAAS Accreditation maintains a public list of SA8000 certified facilities and statistics.
As of September 30, 2010:
- Certified Facilities: 2,330
- Countries Represented: 62
- Industries Represented: 66
- Number of Employees: 1,365,236
The industrial sectors with the most certifications include apparel and textiles; building materials; agriculture
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
; construction
Construction
In the fields of architecture and civil engineering, construction is a process that consists of the building or assembling of infrastructure. Far from being a single activity, large scale construction is a feat of human multitasking...
; chemicals; cosmetics
Cosmetics
Cosmetics are substances used to enhance the appearance or odor of the human body. Cosmetics include skin-care creams, lotions, powders, perfumes, lipsticks, fingernail and toe nail polish, eye and facial makeup, towelettes, permanent waves, colored contact lenses, hair colors, hair sprays and...
; cleaning services and transportation. The countries with the most certification to SA8000 include Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
and Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
.
Accreditation
Social Accountability Accreditation Services (SAAS) is an accreditation agency founded to accredit and monitor organizations as certifiers of compliance with social standards, including the Social Accountability 8000 standard for ethical working conditions. SAAS began work as a department within Social Accountability International (SAI) in 1997 and was formally established as its own not-for-profit organization in 2007.There are 19 Certification Bodies accredited by SAAS to carry out SA8000 social audits:
- ABS Quality Evaluations, Inc.
- Algi Group
- Apcer
- BSI
- Bureau Veritas
- CISE (Centro per l'Innovazione e lo Sviluppo Economico)
- DNV (Det Norske Veritas AS)
- Eurocert S.A.
- Eurotech Assessment & Certification Services
- HKQAA (Hong Kong Quality Assurance Agency)
- Intertek (Intertek Testing Services)
- IQNet Ltd
- LRQA (Lloyd's Register Quality Assurance Ltd.)
- LSQA S.A.
- RINA S.P.A (Registro Italiano Navale Group)
- SGS-SSC
- STR-R LLC.
- TUV NORD Group (TUV Asia Pacific)
- TUV Rheinland Group
- TUV SUD Group (TUV Sud South Asia)
SA8000:2008 Translations
Significance
Dominic A. Tarantino, Chairman of Price Waterhouse World Firm described SA8000 in 1998 as "the first ever universal standard for ethical sourcing... It provides a common framework for ethical sourcing for companies of any size and any type, anywhere in the world. SA8000 sets out provisions for issues such as trade union rights, the use of child labor, working hours, health and safety at work, and fair pay." However, it does not address broader issues of ecology or bribery or other issues which may require more consumer or executive restraint. Tarantino further argued the need for moral leadership:"Pricing, products and services are no longer the sole arbiters of commercial success... it is business that must take the lead in taming the global frontier. Business must take the lead in establishing rule of law in emerging markets. Business must take the lead in stopping bribery. Business must take the lead in bringing order to cyberspace. Business must take the lead in ensuring that technology does not split the world into haves and have nots."