credible,

verifiable,

transparent.
S E T T I N G S TA N DA R D S
FOR A JUST WORLD
™
people care
the growing demand for responsibility
Consumers are more demanding than ever. They have
high expectations when it comes to price, quality and
convenience. And today they also care about workers’
rights and the environment.

But it’s not just consumers. Investors, governments and

students care too.

photo: David Parker; cover: Prem Durai factory in Tirupur, India

They are asking: Was this shirt made in a sweatshop?
Did a child give up school to make this ball? Were the
workers who harvested this banana exposed to toxic
pesticides? Does the company that made this shoe
enforce its code of conduct?

How employers address these concerns affects working

conditions, the environment and the bottom line.
Surveys show that a high percentage of consumers and
investors worldwide are influenced by social and
environmental practices.

Meeting the rising demand for responsible social and

environmental performance requires a systematic approach
that combines ideals and implementation.

SOCIAL ACCOUNTABILITY INTERNATIONAL

setting standards for a just world
Social Accountability
International (SAI) is a
charitable human rights
organization dedicated to
improving workplaces and
communities by developing and
implementing socially
responsible standards.
To fulfill its mission, SAI
• convenes key stakeholders to develop
• consensus-based voluntary standards
• accredits qualified organizations to verify compliance
• promotes understanding and implementation
• of such standards worldwide.
SAI’s social accountability system approach is
based on credibility, verification and transparency.
SA8000 is currently in use by businesses and
governments around the world and is broadly
recognized by trade unions and non-governmental
organizations (NGOs) as one of the strongest
workplace standards. Certification of compliance
to SA8000 promotes management systems that
upgrade working conditions. SA8000 is a powerful
tool for creating environments in which both
workers and management benefit.
SAI works to continuously improve this system
through research, impact assessments, training,
evaluation of auditors, and learning from diverse
stakeholders around the world. Stakeholders include
workers, manufacturers, retailers, human rights experts,
investors, scholars, governments and consumers.

In 1996 SAI convened an international multi- “SA8000, a truly global standard, is

stakeholder Advisory Board to develop Social today the best management tool available
Accountability 8000 (SA8000®), a voluntary to ensure social accountability.”
standard for workplaces based on ILO
Neil Kearney, General Secretary,
(International Labour Organization) and other
The International Textile, Garment and
human rights conventions. Its independent
Leather Workers’ Federation
verification method draws many key elements from
the widely accepted quality management system
certification in the ISO programs.
 SA8000 around the world

NORTH AMERICA CENTRAL & EUROPE AFRICA ASIA

USA ■ ■ ■ SOUTH AMERICA Belgium ■ Ghana ■ Bangladesh ■ ■
Mexico ■ Brazil ■ ■ Finland ■ Lesotho ■ China ■ ■
Chile ■ France ■ ■ ■ Mauritius ■ India ■ ■
Costa Rica ■ Germany ■ ■ South Africa ■ Indonesia ■ ■
Ecuador ■ Greece ■ Japan ■ ■
Honduras ■ Hungary ■ Malaysia ■
Peru ■ Italy ■ ■ Pakistan ■ ■
The Netherlands ■ ■ ■ The Philippines ■ ■
Poland ■ Singapore ■ ■
Slovenia ■ Sri Lanka ■
KEY Spain ■ Thailand ■ ■
■ Outreach via training, conferences, workshops Sweden ■ Vietnam ■ ■
■ Headquarters for SA8000 corporate commitment Switzerland ■ ■
program companies Turkey ■
■ Certified facilities
UK ■ ■

address 220 East 23rd Street

Suite 605
New York, NY 10010
phone +1-212-684-1414
fax +1-212-684-1515
e-mail info@sa-intl.org
website www.sa-intl.org

Social Accountability International is a tax-exempt charitable organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the US Internal Revenue Code.
Donations are fully tax deductible as allowed by law.
SA8000® is a registered trademark of Social Accountability International.
the benefits of SA8000
gains for workers, employers and consumers
Worker benefits
• Fewer accidents
• Enhanced opportunities to organize
trade unions and bargain collectively
• A way to address and improve the
conditions where people work
• Increased worker awareness about
core labor rights
• An opportunity to work directly with
employers on labor rights issues
• Evidence that labor rights are
good for society and business
• Improved business practices lead
to economic growth and new job
opportunities
Employer benefits
• A credible and effective way to put
social responsibility into action
• Enhanced company and brand
reputation
• Improved employee recruitment,
retention and performance
• Gains in quality and productivity
• Savings from fewer workdays lost
and lower insurance bills
• Less expensive than an internal
compliance program
• Better relationships among
workers, trade unions, companies,
customers, NGOs and government
Consumer and investor benefits
• Clear, credible information for
those who want to make ethical
purchasing decisions
• Useful data for socially
responsible investors
• Identification of products made
under humane conditions
• Identification of companies making
progress toward humane
conditions
• Broad coverage of product
categories and production
geography

implementation
SAI tools for social accountability
SAI develops and uses various tools to implement social accountability systems.
Research and development SAI coordinates the drafting and revising of auditable social accountability
standards, provides guidelines for the independent verification of compliance and gives examples of good
practices. SAI also tracks the impact of SA8000, including the costs and benefits of certification.
Accreditation SAI licenses qualified auditing firms and individual auditors to certify facility compliance
with social accountability standards. Certified facilities are entitled to use the SA8000 certification mark.
SAI regularly audits the auditors. It does not audit factories or farms. SAI and other similar NGOs work
through ISEAL (International Social and Environmental Accreditation and Labeling Alliance) to ensure high
quality social standard setting and accreditation.
Improving auditing effectiveness SAI provides oversight and review of the auditing process, which
includes an open complaints and appeals system. SAI hosts regional roundtables on four continents to
review auditing challenges and share best practices. SAI also works to foster greater involvement by NGOs
and trade unions through joint research and training.
Training and technical assistance SAI partners with local groups in the training of auditors, workers and
their representatives and owners and managers in using the SA8000 system. Also, an international project –
“Improving Worker’s Rights Through Voluntary Workplace Standards”, jointly coordinated by SAI and the
ITGLWF, uses SA8000 as an example of workplace codes of conduct. In addition, SAI helps companies in
the implementation process by providing training and information.
Outreach and alliance building The organization also seeks to harmonize various social, environmental
and ethical standards by researching avenues for mutual acceptance and frameworks for integrated audits.
Work is currently underway with FLO (Fairtrade Labeling Organization), IFOAM (International Federation
of Organic Agriculture Movements), CAN (Conservation Agriculture Network) and others. SAI participates
in the work of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) and The Global Compact.
Corporate commitment is a tool for companies and other organizations to explore SA8000 and implement
it in their own facilities and those of their suppliers.
Level One: Evaluate SA8000 as an ethical sourcing tool via pilot audits
Level Two: Implement SA8000 over time in some or all of the supply chain
Communicate implementation progress to stakeholders via SAI-verified public reporting
Corporate commitment program benefits include SA8000 training courses for managers, suppliers
and workers, technical assistance in implementing SA8000 from SAI staff and other participating
organizations, access to a shared database of suppliers, and the right to use the SAI and SA8000 logos
to communicate with stakeholders.
 setting standards
SA8000: a system for assuring humane workplaces
“SA8000 is the current benchmark in the
field of corporate social accountability.”
Morton Winston, Amnesty International USA
“Toys ‘R’ Us clearly sees the value in using
SA8000 and working with suppliers to
implement this system”
Tom DeLuca, Vice President,
Product Development, Toys ‘R’ Us
SA8000 is used around the world to assure just
and decent working conditions by protecting
widely-accepted labor rights:
Child Labor No workers under the age of 15; minimum
lowered to 14 for countries operating under the
developing-country exception (ILO Convention 138);
children found to be working go into a remediation
program, enabling them to attend school.
Forced Labor No forced or bonded labor; no withholding of
deposits or identity papers by employers or outside recruiters.
Health and Safety A safe and healthy work environment;
regular health and safety worker training; ready access to
clean bathrooms and potable water.
Freedom of Association and Right to Collective Bargaining
The right to form and join trade unions and bargain
collectively; where law restricts these freedoms, parallel
means of association are required.
Discrimination No discrimination based on race, caste,
origin, religion, disability, gender, sexual orientation, age,
union or political affiliation; no sexual harassment.
Discipline No corporal punishment, mental or physical
coercion or verbal abuse.
Working Hours Comply with applicable law but, in any
event, no more than 48 hours per week with at least one
day off for every seven day period; voluntary overtime paid
at a premium rate and not to exceed 12 hours per week on
a regular basis; overtime must be voluntary unless a
collective bargaining agreement permits short-term
exceptions.
Remuneration Wages paid for a standard work week must
meet the legal or industry standards and be sufficient to
meet the basic needs of workers and their families, plus
some discretionary income; no disciplinary deductions.
Management Systems This element requires that facilities
go beyond simple compliance to integrate the intent and
elements of the standard in their operations. It also requires
responsibility for the practices of their suppliers.
Since SA8000 became fully operational in 1998,
facilities in over 20 nations and more than 15 industries
have been certified to the standard. Numerous training
courses have been given in Asia, Latin America, Europe
and North America.
Retailers, brand companies and other employers
around the world with annual sales representing
over USD100 billion are currently using SA8000.
Among these are Amana SA, Avon, Carrefour,
Chiquita, Coop Italia, Cutter & Buck, Dole,
..
Eileen Fisher, Kesko, Otto Versand, Tex Line,
Toys ‘R’ Us, UNOPS, Voegele Mode and WE Europe.
Social Accountability International
220 East 23rd Street
Suite 605
New York, NY 10010
www.sa-intl.org