SA 8000

The Standard SA 8000 is a management system tool on working conditions and regulations compliance. It aims at improving working conditions worldwide, by imposing strict rules to organisations and involving the entire supply chain.

It is based on core ILO conventions, Universal Declaration on Human Rights and the United Nations Convention on Children's Rights, as well as management systems (ISO 9000 and 14000). The areas of certification are related to 10 ILO Conventions:

  • Child labour
  • Forced labour
  • Freedom of association
  • Health and safety
  • Right of collective bargaining
  • Discrimination
  • Disciplinary measures
  • Working hours
  • Compensation
  • Suppliers relationships

SA 8000 targets suppliers and subcontractors which must be aware and engage in improving working conditions in their premises. Documentation and training programmes are fundamental to achieving compliance.

SAI trains auditors and proposes an implementation programme to companies (Corporate Involvement programme). It is often used by multinationals to audit their suppliers and subcontractors. After a successful external audit, the certification is valid for 3 years.

Information

  • Author: SAI: Social Accountability International. NGO with headquarters in USA, composed of investors from different sectors: workers and trade unions, enterprises, governments and NGOs
  • Application: Universal
  • Creation Date: 1997 (reviewed in 2008)
  • Availability: Free
  • Pillars: (none so far)

Source

http://www.sa-intl.org

SA8000 documents page: www.sa-intl.org/SA8000/documents.html

Training schedule: http://www.sa-intl.org/training/schedules

Remarks

Specificity
This standard has become a worldwide reference in working regulations and labour rights management system, mainly because it proposes a certifiable management system. Many other standards and initiatives cover the same core ILO conventions, often under the form of sectoral codes of conduct, guidelines and recommendations.

Purpose - Certification