What is it about?
The SA (Social Accountability) 8000 standard is an international standard developed in 1997, containing nine social requirements aimed at certifying certain aspects of corporate management related to corporate social responsibility (CSR). These are:
- respect for human rights
- respect for workers’ rights
- protection against child exploitation
- guarantees of safety and health in the workplace
The international standard aims to improve working conditions worldwide and, most importantly, allows for a standard that can be verified by certification bodies.
How did SA 8000 originate?
This standard did not originate in the same way as technical certifications (e.g., ISO 9000), which are based on parameters established by national expert committees in a specialized field that formalize these choices into standards to be shared nationally and internationally, following a long cycle that expands from Europe (EN) to the world (ISO).
SA 8000 was created by CEPAA (Council of Economical Priorities Accreditation Agency, www.cepaa.org), an offshoot of CEP (Council of Economic Priorities), a U.S. institute founded in 1969 to provide investors and consumers with informational tools to analyze companies’ social performance.
SA 8000 is based on the conventions of the ILO (International Labour Organization), the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Who is directly affected?
It directly involves important community components:
- suppliers
- customers
- consumers and their associations
- environmental and humanitarian groups
- trade unions
- mass media
- residents in the production area
Why is it important?
Corporate social responsibility is undoubtedly an issue around which new economic dynamics are emerging that cannot fail to affect competition both globally and locally.
Furthermore:
- It is the first international standard that MEASURES the ethical level and social responsibility of a company.
- It is applicable internationally in ANY sector.
- Compliance with the standard’s norms is guaranteed by a THIRD-PARTY, INDEPENDENT certification issued by ACCREDITED BODIES.
- It requires, in addition to behaviors, to publicly highlight SYSTEM MANAGEMENT.