Social Accountability 8000 (SA 8000) is the first global standard for corporate social responsibility. The SA 8000 certification is promoted as a voluntary, universal standard for companies interested in verifying and certifying labor practices within their operations and those of their suppliers.
The SA 8000 standard is based on internationally recognized standards for decent work, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and national laws. The SA 8000 standard applies a management system approach to social performance and emphasizes continuous improvement.
SA 8000 certification ensures the measurement of a company’s performance in eight key areas: child labor, forced labor, health and safety at work, freedom of association and collective bargaining, discrimination, disciplinary practices, working hours, and compensation.
The SA 8000 standard is designed in line with ISO standards (such as ISO 26000). The criteria require organizations seeking certification to comply with the requirements of the SA 8000 standard.
SA 8000 Social Responsibility Requirements – SA 8000 provides transparent, measurable, verifiable certification requirements for business operations through 9 main areas:
- Child Labor
Child labor is prohibited (children under 15 years old). Certified companies must allocate resources for the education of children who will lose the right to work as a result of this standard. - Forced Labor
Workers must not be required to surrender their identification documents or pay deposits as a condition of employment. - Health and Safety
Companies must ensure basic standards of health and safety, including drinking water, sanitary facilities, applicable safety equipment, and necessary training. - Freedom of Association
Protects workers’ rights to form unions and engage in collective bargaining without fear of retaliation.
There must be no discrimination based on race, national origin, religion, disability, gender, sexual orientation, membership in a union, or political affiliation. - Disciplinary Practices
Physical punishment, mental or physical coercion, and verbal abuse of employees are prohibited. - Working Hours
Provides frameworks for a maximum of 48 working hours per week, with at least one day off per week, and a limit of 12 paid overtime hours per week.
Wages must meet or exceed legal minimum requirements and provide enough income for basic needs. - Management Requirements
Defines procedures for effectively managing, implementing, and assessing compliance with the SA 8000 standard, from appointing responsible personnel to maintaining records, responding to issues, and taking corrective actions.
Key benefits of the SA 8000 standard that organizations can achieve through implementation and certification include:
- Meeting customer and partner requirements
- Improving supplier engagement
- Enhancing productivity
- Assisting in securing new customers