Social Accountability International (SAI)

Social Accountability International (SAI) has as its mission the promotion of human rights for workers around the world as a standards organization, ethical supply chain resource, and programs developer. SAI promotes workers' rights primarily through its voluntary SA8000 system. Based on the International Labour Organization (ILO) standards and U.N. Human Rights Conventions, SA8000 is widely accepted as the most viable and comprehensive international ethical workplace management system available.

SAI works with an array of stakeholders who are instrumental in the ever-continuing effort to improve and implement the SA8000 system. The approach cannot be effective unless every key stakeholder has a “say” with regard to its evolution. Therefore, SAI works with companies (such as the Gap Inc., Co-op Italia, and Chiquita Brands International), consumer groups, non-governmental organizations (NGOs like Amnesty International and C.A.R.E.), labour organizations (which currently include a total of 15 million workers in their ranks), governmental agencies, and certification bodies around the world. SAI accredits the certification bodies for SA8000 auditing to ensure that workers receive the just and humane treatment they deserve.

Basic ethics and humanity are at the heart of the SAI mission; and the business case for using SA8000 has become increasingly more compelling. Companies and their suppliers are increasingly aware that treating workers humanely and fairly makes extremely good business sense. SA8000 incorporates third-party monitoring for credible verification, and has built-in management systems to minimize ethical sourcing risk, increase worker efficiency and productivity, and sustainably enhance a company’s or facility’s social performance record.

SAI promotes human rights for workers around the world.

SA8000 Elements

The SA8000 Standard is an auditable certification standard based on international workplace norms of International Labour Organisation (ILO) conventions, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. The SA8000 Standard is available for download in various languages. A summary of the Standard elements follows:

1. Child Labour: No workers under the age of 15; minimum lowered to 14 for countries operating under the ILO Convention 138 developing-country exception; remediation of any child found to be working;

2. Forced Labour: No forced labour, including prison or debt bondage labour; no lodging of deposits or identity papers by employers or outside recruiters;

3. Health and Safety: Provide a safe and healthy work environment; take steps to prevent injuries; regular health and safety worker training; system to detect threats to health and safety; access to bathrooms and potable water;

4. Freedom of Association and Right to Collective Bargaining: Respect the right to form and join trade unions and bargain collectively; where law prohibits these freedoms, facilitate parallel means of association and bargaining;

5. Discrimination: No discrimination based on race, caste, origin, religion, disability, gender, sexual orientation, union or political affiliation, or age; no sexual harassment;

6. Discipline: No corporal punishment, mental or physical coercion or verbal abuse;

7. Working Hours: Comply with the applicable law but, in any event, no more than 48 hours per week with at least one day off for every seven day period; voluntary overtime paid at a premium rate and not to exceed 12 hours per week on a regular basis; overtime may be mandatory if part of a collective bargaining agreement;

8. Compensation: Wages paid for a standard work week must meet the legal and industry standards and be sufficient to meet the basic need of workers and their families; no disciplinary deductions;

9. Management Systems: Facilities seeking to gain and maintain certification must go beyond simple compliance to integrate the standard into their management systems and practices.