SA 8000 Social Accountability Standard
In a global economy, corporate social responsibility assumes tremendous significance for all organizations which play a role in this eco-system. In such a scenario, there exists the necessity for organizations to demonstrate the implementation of sound corporate social responsibility programs within their organization.
Social Accountability International (SAI) is a non-governmental, international organization dedicated to improving the working conditions of the global workforce by developing and implementing globally applicable, socially responsible standards. SA8000:2008 is an auditable standard for a third-party verification system, setting out the voluntary requirements to be met by employers in the workplace, including workers� rights, workplace conditions, and management systems. SA 8000 standard works towards:
- Eradication of child labour, forced or compulsory labour
- Ensuring the health and safety of workers
- Ensuring the rights of workers to their freedom of association and collective bargaining
- Eradication of discrimination in any form or on any basis
- Eradication of harsh disciplinary practices such as corporal punishment, coercion
- Enforcing reasonable working hours
- Ensuring adherence to minimum wage standards
- Implementing management systems to oversee the adherence to these workplace practices
Any legal entity can apply for accreditation with SA 8000:2008 standard: Manufacturers, Service Organizations, Trading Houses, Banks, Hospitals, Educational Institutions, Government Agencies, etc.
Benefits of SA8000 include:
- A demonstrated system of corporate social responsibility in the workplace
- Clear articulation of organizational responsibility towards Social Accountability
- Transparency and traceability of all workplace related issues
- Opportunity to participate in the global supply chain of organizations which insist on the existence of a fair workplace environment
- Improvement of employer-employee relationship, resulting in a safe and healthy workplace environment
- More visible compliance to labour laws