It is estimated that around 100 million children worldwide are employed full-time. But social compliance bars companies must not allow child labor.

Companies must provide a safe and healthy workplace for all and respect the right of all employees to join a trade union. Discrimination, in any form and at any cost, not allowed and neither is corporal punishment or verbal abuse.

The organizations who certified for social compliance will ensure that their employees and employees of respective suppliers do not work for more than 48 hours per week or more than six days per week. Wages throughout the supply chain must be at worse equal to legal or industry minimum levels and must leave the employee with some discretionary income.

The final requirement governing management systems sets out the procedures and structures that companies must adapt to ensure compliance with the standard is continuously reviewed.

SA8000 was the first audible standard in this field. In particular, it is compatible with ISO 9001, ISO 14001, OHSAS 18001 structures and based on conventions of the International Labour Organisation (ILO), the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. The worldwide-recognized certification to the SA8000 standard involves the development and auditing of management systems that promote socially acceptable working practices bringing benefits to the complete supply chain.

The standard Requirements SA8000 was launched in 1997 by CEPAA – Council on Economic Priorities Accreditation Agency, an NGO, later renamed to SAI – Social Accountability International. Social Accountability 8000 (SA8000) is the first global standard for corporate social responsibility. SA8000 is based on both international human rights’ conventions (International Labour Organization, the International Declaration of Human Rights and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child) and satisfying relevant local legislation. It aims to guarantee basic rights of workers involved in the production processes.

• No permission for Child labour.
• No forced labour.
• Assurance of Health and Safety.
• Guaranteeing freedom to organize and collective bargaining.
• No Discrimination.
• No Disciplinary practices.
• Working hours shall not exceed 48 hours a week, with a maximum of 12 hours overtime
• Sufficient Remuneration.

Having a robust and effectively implemented social accountability management will benefit your business by:

• Building your brand, image, and reputation
• Earning new customers
• Improved worker morale and benefiting its effectiveness.
• Opportunity for ethical investment
• Easy pitch for new opportunities
• Demonstrating transparency to stakeholder
• An edge over non-approved competitors in the market.