CONSULTANCY SERVICES

General Management System Standards

SA 8000

Introduction

Corporate scandals in recent years and the the rise of social accountability have prompted companies to consider the impact of their corporate activities and policies on society. Consumers and socially conscious corporate customers have also instigated organisations to maintain a just and decent work condition for their employees and to ensure the same in their supply chain. Organisations that want to maintain a high profile and an enviable reputation have to consider the full social impact in which their suppliers and business partners operate. In essence, this means controlling and putting into practice the respect and promotion of human rights of all workers throughout the whole supply, production and distribution chain.

SA 8000 is an international standard that encourages manufacturing companies and other organisations to develop, maintain and apply socially acceptable workplace practices. Created in 1998 by the Social Accountability International (SAI), an affiliate of the Council on Economic Priorities, SA 8000 is viewed as the most globally applicable workplace standard. It can be used by facilities of any size, in any geographical area and in any industrial sector.

Benefits of Implementation

SA 8000 provides uncountable benefits - both tangible and intangible. A typical organisation would enjoy the following:

• increased awareness of labour rights and in this, better compliance
• reduced legal liability by showing due diligence
• better able to attract and retain talent by showing that the organisation cares for their well being
• have a better corporate image in the eyes of regulators, customers, employees as well as the society at large

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is covered under SA 8000?

Amongst the areas covered by SA 8000 are: child labour, forced labour, health and safety, freedom of association and collective bargaining, discrimination, disciplinary practices, working hours, compensation and management systems and workers’ rights.

SA 8000 embraces existing international agreements, including International Labour Organisation (ILO) conventions, the Universal Declaration on Human Rights, and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. SA 8000, is a way for retailers, customers, suppliers and other organizations to maintain a just and decent work condition throughout the supply chain.