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