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Organisations can make the world a better place with Social Accountability.

Even though companies/ businesses exist to make money, in today’s world, people are shifting their attention from products and services to the companies behind those products and services. So it is extremely important to act in the best interests of their environments and society as a whole.

A company’s leadership plays an important role in chalking out a direction and a culture for the business. But as social values change and become more important, it’s often important for companies to deliberately put in the effort to make themselves Socially accountable.

What is Social Accountability?

Social accountability means that individuals and companies have a duty to act in the best interests of their environments and society as a whole.

As an auditor, I have seen many companies wanting the right thing for society but are stuck in the implementation.

To help companies overcome this challenge, brief understanding of the requirements is necessary. “Socially accountable” means an organization considers the social impact of their operations in addition to the conditions under which their employees, partners, and suppliers operate.

Benefits of Social Accountability to companies :

  • Proves your commitment to social accountability and to treating your employees ethically and in compliance with global standards.
  • Improves the management and performance of your supply chain.
  • Allows you to ensure compliance with global standards and reduce the risk of negligence, public exposure, and possible litigation.
  • Supports your corporate vision and build and reinforce the loyalty of your employees, customers, and stakeholders.
  • Enables you to demonstrate proper social accountability when bidding for international contracts or expanding locally to accommodate new business.

If you are looking to get Social accountable, here are a few basic requirements to get you started:

  • Ensure that the Child, forced or slave labors are not employed.
  • Minimize or eliminate hazards in the workplace.
  • Allow workers the right to protect themselves
  • Treat staff with dignity and forbid inhumane treatment.
  • Aside from standard working hours, Companies must make overtime optional
  • Wages enough to cover the basic needs of the staff /workers

Conclusion

Social Accountability International (SAI) organization created an international standard called SA8000. This standard can be applied to any company, of any size, worldwide. SA8000 serves as a standard for holding companies/suppliers accountable. So if you are a company wanting to be socially accountable or company looking for a supplier, Social compliance audit using the standard can help you to get a clear picture of what’s happening in your supplier’s factory and any potential problems with compliance.

SA 8000 is an international certification standard that encourages organizations to develop, maintain and apply socially acceptable practices in the workplace.

TUV India is recognized and respected as a valued symbol of reliability, sustainability and trust. TUV India offers you comprehensive services that will boost your image as a socially responsible business. TUV India, as a trusted partner help you in obtaining SA 8000 Certification, which leads to sustainable changes in business practices, consistent and compliant supply chains and more sustainable customer relationships, delivering profitable competitive advantage.