SA 8000: The international standard for social responsibility
Nowadays, the subject of Corporate Social Responsibility is attracting increasing attention in the media and in society. In particular, against the background of worldwide outsourcing, companies have to ensure that their suppliers behave responsibly towards both people and the environment, and also demonstrate these qualities. This is the important part in terms of risk management and corporate ethics.
TÜV NORD CERT certifies social responsibility according to the internationally recognized SA 8000 standard, created by Social Accountability International (SAI) and overseen by the Social Accountability Accreditation Service (SAAS).
The SA8000 Standard is based on internationally recognized standards of decent work, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, ILO conventions, and national laws. SA8000 applies a management-systems approach to social performance and emphasizes continual improvement—not checklist-style auditing. It includes the same requirements as BSCI, but augments these with a management system identical to standard DIN EN ISO 9001.
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.