Audit standards

 

SA 8000, which is the first standard governing employees' working condition under Social Accountability International (SAI), provides a framework for independent assessment by a third party certification body, as in the cases of ISO 9000 quality management system and ISO 14000 environmental management system. 

It is thus our great concern to refer to SA 8000 set of social accountability standards and guidance document to achieve your Factory Assessment requirements. 

The Social Accountability Standards deal with the following criteria: 

Child labour: the company shall not support the use of child labour which is defined by Chinese law as the work of "any person less than 16 years of age ". 

Forced Labour: the company shall not support the use of "Forced or Bonded Labour" 

Health and Safety: the company shall provide to its employees a safe and healthy working environment. People should not have to work in an environment which is potentially harmful to their health. 

Freedom of Association and Right to collective Bargaining: "the company shall respect the right of all personnel to form and join trade unions of their choice and to bargain collectively" (SAI) 

Discrimination: "the company shall not engage in or support discrimination in hiring, compensation, access to training, promotion, termination or retirement based on race, caste, national origin, religion, disability, gender, sexual orientation, union membership, or political affiliation" (SAI) 

Disciplinary practices: "the company shall not engage in or support the use of corporal punishment, mental or physical coercion, and verbal abuse"(SAI) 

Working hours: "the company shall comply with applicable laws and industry standards on working hours" (SAI) 

Compensation: "the company shall ensure that wages paid for a standard working week shall meet at least legal or industry minimum standards" (SAI) 

Management systems: "top management shall define the company's policy for social accountability and labour conditions to ensure that it includes a commitment to conform to all requirements of this standard and national and other applicable law" (SAI)