The amfori Business Social Compliance Initiative (BSCI) is an industry-driven movement that aims to monitor and assess workplace standards across the global supply chain.

The amfori BSCI (amfori BSCI) was launched by the Foreign Trade Association amfori, acknowledging that international trade is an essential vehicle for human prosperity and social economic growth.

This code of conduct (the amfori BSCI Code of Conduct) is a set of principles and values that reflect the beliefs of amfori BSCI Participants and the expectations they have towards their business partners.

The amfori BSCI Code of Conduct refers to international conventions such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Children’s Rights and Business Principles, UN Guiding Principles for Business and Human Rights, OECD Guidelines, UN Global Compact and International Labour Organization (ILO) Conventions and Recommendations relevant to improve working conditions in the supply chain.

Business enterprises that endorse the amfori BSCI Code of Conduct are committed to the principles set out in this document and to meeting, within their sphere of influence, their responsibility to respect human rights.

amfori BSCI and its participants (amfori BSCI Participants) pursue a constructive and open dialogue among business partners and stakeholders in order to reinforce the principles of socially responsible business. Furthermore, they see the building up of mature industrial relations between workers and management as being key for sustainable businesses.

The Code of conduct is organized around the 11 following social principles:

• The Right of Freedom of Association and Collective Bargaining
• Fair remuneration
• Occupational Health and Safety
• Special Protection for young workers
• No bonded labour
• Ethical business behaviour
• No discrimination
• Decent working hours
• No child labour
• No precarious employment
• Protection of the environment

Social compliance refers to how a company protects the health and safety as well as the rights of its employees, the community, and the environment where it operates in addition to the lives and communities of workers in its distribution chain and its supply chain.

Only companies that are actively supplying BSCI Members can be audited according to the BSCI Code of Conduct. The audit has to be applied via the BSCI platform and approved by the BSCI member responsible for the supplier.

A social compliance will ensure the workers are being treated ethically and their rights respected – including freedom of association, fair remuneration, health & safety and prohibition of child labour.

The goal of a social responsibility audit is to document and manage an organization’s practice with regards to society, environment, shareholders and employees. Major points of focus are fair labor laws, sustainability (environmental impact), workplace harassment and abuse, working conditions and health and safety.

Conducting a amfori Business Social Compliance Initiative audit of your supply chain provide following benefits:

• Ensure workers throughout your supply chain are being treated ethically and their rights respected – including freedom of association, fair remuneration, health & safety and prohibition of child labour.
• Avoid negative press if found that your suppliers are treating workers poorly.
• Enhance your reputation among consumers as a reputable and ethical company and develop a competitive edge.
• Improve your relationship with suppliers.
• Ease to get SA8000® social accountability certification.