SA 8000: The international standard for social responsibility
Corporate Social Responsibility in the sense of responsibility towards people and the planet is attracting ever more attention in the media and in society as a whole. In these days of internationalisation, worldwide networking and the trend towards production outsourcing, companies have to ensure that their suppliers also demonstrate these qualities. This is also important in terms of risk management and corporate ethics.
TÜV NORD CERT certifies social responsibility according to the internationally-recognised SA 8000 Standard, which was created by Social Accountability International (SAI) and is overseen by Social Accountability Accreditation Services (SAAS).
The SA 8000 Standard is based on the UN Declaration of Human Rights, the ILO (International Labor Organization) standards and further international labour and human rights standards, and also on national labour legislation.
Benefits of SA 8000 certification
- Documentation of fair working practices
- Documentation of continual improvement of your management system
- Permanent improvement of your risk management system
- Improved global competitiveness
- Greater employee satisfaction
- Increased productivity
Audit procedure for SA 8000 certification
FAQs on SA 8000
SA 8000 measures social performance in eight areas which are significant for social responsibility at the workplace. The following criteria are audited:
- Child Labour
- Forced or Compulsory Labour
- Health and Safety
- Freedom of Association & Right to Collective Bargaining
- Discrimination
- Disciplinary Practices
- Working Hours
- Remuneration
These requirements are integrated and monitored into the operational management system in the course of certification, promoting continual improvement in all areas covered by the standard.
The SA 8000 Standard is suitable for all types of companies and organisations, regardless of size, geographic location or sector.
