1. Who Benefits from
Improved Labor Standards?
Buyers
More effective and reliable supply chain
Measurable corporate social responsibility track
record
Improved employee recruitment, retention and
performance
Better risk management

2. SAI Around the World
Europe and the Middle East
Belgium Poland
Czech Republic Portugal
Denmark Romania Asia
Finland Slovenia Bangladesh Laos
France Spain China Malaysia
North America Germany Sweden India Pakistan
US Greece Switzerland Indonesia Philippines
Mexico Hungary Syria Japan Singapore
Italy Turkey Korea Sri Lanka
Netherlands UK Taiwan
Thailand
Central and
Vietnam
South America
Africa
Argentina
Ghana
Brazil
Kenya
Chile
Lesotho
Costa Rica
Mauritius
Ecuador
South Africa
Guatemala
Honduras
Peru SAI Offices

3. Background to Social
Accountability
“Where, after all, do universal human rights begin? In
small places close to home – so close and so small that
they cannot be seen on any map of the world. Yet they
are the world of the individual person: the
neighborhood he lives in; the school or college he
attends; the factory, farm or office where he works.
Such are the places where every man, woman and child
seeks equal justice, equal opportunity, equal dignity
without discrimination. Unless these rights have
meaning there, they have little meaning anywhere.”
Eleanor Roosevelt – remarks at the United Nations Commission on
Human Rights – March 27, 1948.

4. The Uninformed Consumer
Retailer
Suppliers Retailer
India, China, Consumer
Kenya, Brazil,
Indonesia,
Turkey,
etc. Retailer Consumer view of
the supply chain
Retailer stops at retailer

5. Assumption
The consumer values regarding social
accountability, ethics and so forth are
passed via the retailer to the retailer’s supply
chain.
So
Provided supply chain meets requirements
of consumer values - NO PROBLEM

6. The Informed Consumer
Retailer
Suppliers Retailer
India, China, Retailer Consumer
Kenya, Brazil,
Indonesia, Retailer
Turkey, Consumer
etc. informed of
supplier details
becomes aware
Media of supply chain
issues

7. Why was SA 8000 Developed
Consumers and other stakeholders have
become increasingly concerned about
whether products have been manufactured
under conditions of violation of human rights,
child labor and discrimination – as often
reported by the media.
The existing management of many companies
cannot adequately cope with the myriad
demands imposed by labor laws, codes of
conduct of individual companies, as well as
their stakeholders.

8. Why Use A Standard? - SA
8000
is a broad consensus document
 represents the interests of many
stakeholders, while being biased to none in
particular
is sufficiently rigid yet flexible
 meets the expectations of civil society, yet
is suitable for application across all industry
sectors and localities

9. Why Use A Standard? - SA
8000
SA 8000
unambiguously respects the key aspects
of the ILO and UN conventions relevant
to human rights in the workplace
contains measurable and flexible
management system requirements

10. Why Use A Standard? - SA
8000
 fundamental management concept
embodied in section 9
 requires mechanisms to ensure
control, response and accountability
 ensures that company management
respects social accountability as a
strategic business issue

11. Social Accountability International
(CEPAA) Now (SAI)
• Affiliate of the Council on Economic Priorities
• Established 1997 ,Its Mission is to provide
accurate and impartial analysis to evaluate
corporate social performance.
• Advisory Board convened to oversee SA
8000 development and accreditation
processes

12. SAI (Continued)
• Consists of representatives of Unions, human rights
and children’s rights organisations, academia,
retailers, manufacturers, contractors, consulting,
accounting and certification firms:
e Amnesty International, Association , Avon,
Body Shop, CEP, Eileen Fisher, Group M,
International Textile Garment and Leather
Workers Federation, KPMG , National Child
Labour Committee, Reebok, SGS ICS, Toys R
Us, University of Texas

13. SAI Mission
Development of consensus based
voluntary based standard.
Accredit qualified organization to verify
compliance.
Promoting understanding of such
standards world wide.

14. The 4 Parties + The Public
The Public
Supplier Client/
Retailer
1st party 2nd party
Enterprise
XYZ Accredited
Certification
Body
3rd party
SGS-ICS
- Ensures that certification bodies Accreditation
respect national or international Body
requirements (eg: ISO Guide 62)
- The only accreditation body 4th Party
worldwide (not like ISO 9000)

15. What is SA 8000
Released in October 1997, the Social Accountability
8000(or SA 8000) Standard is the first global ethical
standard.
SA 8000 has been developed based on the
conventions of the International Labor
Organization, the Universal Declaration of Human
Rights, as well as the United Nations Convention on
the Rights of a Child. It is applicable to all
companies regardless of scale, industry and location
Its objective is to ensure ethical sourcing and
production of goods and services.

16. What is SA 8000
SA 8000 aims to promote continuous
improvement of workplace conditions.
It encourage buyers to work with their
suppliers to implement a social accountability
policy that can improve the work place
condition through technical assistance and
increased awareness.
General adherence to this standard will
improve brand image and company
reputation.
SA 8000 address workplace conditions

17. How does SA 8000 Work
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

18. How does SA 8000 Work
Through continuous assessment, it
provides the companies with a system
for continuous improvement
Through an appeal process to the
certification body, non-governmental
organizations (i.e. NGOs), if they have
supporting evidence, can challenge the
SA 8000 certification of a company

19. Who Can Apply For
Certification
Companies want to verify their Social
Record.
Contractors that are producing goods
for US and European companies.
Multinational Companies seek to
ensure that they procure from
companies which are not exploitative .

20. Special Features of SA 8000
Audit
Specific Social performance standard
with minimum requirement.
Auditors are required to consult and
learn from interested parties such as
NGO’s, Trade unions etc.
A complaint and appeal mechanism.

21. Benefits of SA 8000
Certification
Increased customer recognition and loyalty.
Globally recognized standard .
Increase the ability of business to trade
internationally.
Removing the need of business to undergo
multiple COC audits.
Assurance that brand are produced in human
and socially responsible conditions.