SA8000 Improves Standards for Workers and for Business

TESTCOO/October 22, 2021

The SA8000 Standard

The SA8000 Standard is based on internationally recognized standards of decent work, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, ILO conventions, and national laws. SA8000 applies a management-systems approach to social performance and emphasizes continual improvement—not checklist-style auditing.

Elements of the SA8000 Standard

1. Child Labor
2. Forced or Compulsory Labor
3. Health and Safety
4. Freedom of Association & Right to Collective Bargaining
5. Discrimination
6. Disciplinary Practices
7. Working Hours
8. Remuneration
9. Management System

SA8000 improves standards for workers and for business

Management systems, worker engagement, a culture of continuous improvement, and other elements of SA8000 not only lead to better working conditions and worker well-being, they also have benefits for productivity, stakeholder relationships, market access, and more.

Benefits for Employers

SA8000-certified organizations experience a variety of positive business impacts, including:

-Better relationships with workers, customers, and external stakeholders
-More effective management systems that improve workflows throughout the organization, resulting in
-Improved quality and productivity
-Better hazard and risk detection
-Increased supply chain control
-Higher employee retention
-Enhanced reputation, appeal to global buyers, and preferential status in government tenders

Benefits for Workers

In order to achieve SA8000 certification, an organization has to demonstrate that they meet a standard for worker safety and well-being. The benefits to employees working in SA8000-certified organizations include:

-Safe workplaces and healthy working conditions
-A living wage
-Increased awareness of rights and opportunities to organize
-Better relationships with management and more input in workplace decision-making

Benefits for Brands and Retailers

Brands and retailers that accept SA8000 certification in lieu of first- or second-party social auditing experience benefit from:

-SA8000’s comprehensive social compliance program
-Third-party oversight for quality assurance
-Supplier ownership of social compliance program
-More resources for capacity-building and other social programs, as they are no longer needed for company code-of-conduct audits