social accountability international mission convenes key stakeholders to develop consensus-based...
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Social Accountability InternationalMission
Convenes key stakeholders to develop consensus-based standards
Accredits qualified organizations to verify compliance
Promotes understanding and implementation of such standards
SA8000 SAI’s first standard: Social Accountability
8000 >> SA8000 standard on workplace conditions
Based on principles of 12 ILO Conventions, CRC, UDHR, & CEDAW
Drawing key elements from ISO management systems auditing
SA8000 covers: Child labor Forced/bonded labor Discrimination Discipline Health and safety Working hours Compensation Free association & collective baegaining Management systems (including control of suppliers)
SAI – Origins * * *
1995 - baseline study of codes by CEP1996 - multi-stakeholder, international
Advisory Board convened to develop a standard and verification system.
1997 - SA8000 published1998 - First Certification2001 - 80 facilities certified in 24
countries and 15 industries
SAI Advisory Board – Business Tom DeLuca Toys ‘R’ Us (US) Dr. Johannes Merck / Otto-Versand (Germany) Achim Lohrie (alt) Ivano Barberini/ Legacoop (Italy) Alessandra Vacarri (alt) Fitz Hilaire Avon Products, Inc. (US) Frits Nagel We Europe (Netherlands) Sharon Hayes Dole Food Products (US) Jeffrey L. Horner / SGS Int’l Certif. Services John Brookes (alt) (Switzerland) Amy Hall Eileen Fisher (US) Simon Billeness Trillium Asset Management
(US)© Social Accountability International
SAI Advisory Board NGO’s, Trade Unions & Government
Morton Winston/ Amnesty International (US) Gemma Crijns (alt) Amnesty International (Netherlands) Oded Grajew/ Abrinq Foundation (Brazil) Helio Matter (alt) Lynda Yanz Maquila Solidarity Network(Canada) Dorianne Beyer/ National Child Labor Committee(US) David Zwiebel (alt) Alice Tepper Marlin Social Accountability International (US) Neil Kearney International Garment Leather &
Textile Worker Federation (Belgium) Reinhart Helmke United Nations Office of Project Services Ken Sylvester / Office of the Comptroller of the Pat Doherty (alt) City of New York (US) Phil Jennings/ Union Network International (Switzerland) Jan Furstenborg (alt)
© Social Accountability International
Some Certified Facilities…The Marketing Store Hong KongCELTIPHARM France Endeavor Embroidery LaosACROPLASTICA ItalyKeyhinge Toys VietnamL.E. Jones USA Zodiac Clothing Company IndiaCheng Da Toys Co. ChinaAccompany Surgical PakistanPT Busana Cemerlang Indonesia For full current list, see www.SA-intl.org
SA8000 – Two-track ProgramFactory or farm-based certifications
conducted by accredited certification bodies
Retailer commitment encouraged through Corporate Commitment program
Other Workplace Programs Standardized Certif:
SAI Fair Labor
Association Worldwide
Responsible Apparel Production
Fairwear Foundation
Advocacy/Research: Workers Rights
Consortium University Students
Against Sweatshops Clean Clothes
Campaign Ethical Trading
Initiative
Key Characteristics Code based on Int’l Human Rights norms Multi-stakeholder - including trade unions,
NGOs, companies External monitors based locally Workplace-based certification Incentive program for retailers Transparent and open complaints and appeals
system Replicable
For comparisons: www.maquilasolidarity.org
Challenges: Finding balance between high standards and gaining
critical mass of support Quality control of auditing and claims of certification Working with diverse stakeholders Politicking/debates within the NGO community Ensuring an active role for local NGOs and trade
unions Providing useful info to consumers and investors –
building a stronger carrot… Developing mutual recognition among like-minded
certifiers
Defining Success Number of certified facilities Number of complaints resolved in a manner
satisfactory to workers Number of MNCs using SA8000 throughout supply
chain… strengthening commitment to their suppliers Number of implementing facilities that have taken
their own initiative to do so Standard being used as a benchmark Factories reporting benefits exceed costs Constructive collaboration among social certification
programs
ISEAL Alliance: International Social and Environmental
Accreditation and Labeling Alliance: www.isealalliance.org
FSC, MSC, FLO, CAN, IFOAM, IOAS, SAI Goals:
Peer Review to ISO accreditation Guidance, new for standard setting, revise IAF
guidance for accreditation Build capacity