SA 8000 Certification (Social Accountability 8000)

Corporate Social Responsibility in the sense of responsibility towards people and the planet is attracting ever more attention in the media and in society as a whole. In these days of internationalisation, worldwide networking and the trend towards production outsourcing, companies have to ensure that their suppliers also demonstrate these qualities. This is also important in terms of risk management and corporate ethics.

TÜV NORD CERT certifies social responsibility according to the internationally-recognised SA 8000 Standard, which was created by Social Accountability International (SAI) and is overseen by Social Accountability Accreditation Services (SAAS).

The SA 8000 Standard is based on the UN Declaration of Human Rights, the ILO (International Labor Organization) standards and further international labour and human rights standards, and also on national labour legislation.

• Documentation of fair working practices
• Documentation of continual improvement of your management system
• Permanent improvement of your risk management system
• Improved global competitiveness
• Greater employee satisfaction
• Increased productivity

• You send us the inquiry
• TUV Nord cert draws up an offer based on your information
• You ask TUV Nord to perform the certification
• You complete an online self-assessment based on your operational management system
• Stage 1 Audit :Establishment of   certification readiness
• Stage 2 Audit : On site certification audit, including document review and interviews
• If the audit  is successful , your company reviews the certificate and test mark (Valid for 3 years) , TUV Nord Performs two surveillance audits and two follow-up reviews during this period)

What are the prerequisites for auditing?

SA 8000 measures social performance in eight areas which are significant for social responsibility at the workplace. The following criteria are audited:

• Child Labour
• Forced or Compulsory Labour
• Health and Safety
• Freedom of Association & Right to Collective Bargaining
• Discrimination
• Disciplinary Practices
• Working Hours
• Remuneration

These requirements are integrated and monitored into the operational management system in the course of certification, promoting continual improvement in all areas covered by the standard.

Who are the target groups for SA 8000 certification?

The SA 8000 Standard is suitable for all types of companies and organisations, regardless of size, geographic location or sector.