What Is SA 8000?
Social Accountability
SA 8000 is a leading social certification program that helps organizations improve their social management system, ensuring confidence and satisfaction among customers and stakeholders. It’s based on globally recognized standards, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, ILO conventions, and national laws. SA 8000 follows a management system approach, emphasizing continual improvement to meet customer, risk, and stakeholder requirements.
SA 8000 is a voluntary certification
SA 8000 is a voluntary certification program suitable for organizations of all sizes. The audit is conducted by approved certification bodies with full membership in APSCA. The certificate and audit report can be shared with multiple customers, promoting efficiency and transparency.
SA 8000 is considered the mother standard of social accountability, driving most social code of conducts. Its ultimate objective is to improve working conditions throughout the supply chain, making it a vital certification for organizations committed to social responsibility.
Key benefits of SA 8000 include:
- Improved social performance
- Enhanced ethical practices
- Increased sustainability
- Better working conditions throughout the supply chain
- Certification valid for three years
- Accepted by international customers and retail stores
- Waiver against customers' own social audits
- Improved reporting structure and traceability
he SA 8000 standard focuses on labor rights, including:
1. Child labor
2. Forced labor
3. Health and safety
4. Freedom of association and right to collective bargaining
5. Discrimination
6. Disciplinary practices
7. Working hours
8. Remuneration
9. Management systems
The SA 8000 certification process involves:
1. Gap analysis and report discussion
2. Implementation of required changes
3. Initial audit (Stage 1 and Stage 2)
4. Certification issuance with 3-year validity
5. Six-monthly surveillance audits (5 audits in 3 years)
6. Re-audit after 3 years to continue certification
cost of SA 8000 certification
The cost of SA 8000 certification varies depending on the organization’s size and complexity. Please contact us for a customized quote.
SA 8000 certification is not a one-time process, it requires periodic surveillance audits to ensure ongoing compliance and improvement. The certification body conducts audits every 6 months, with a total of 5 audits in 3 years, to ensure the organization maintains its social compliance performance.
