What is SA 8000 Social Accountability Certification?
Social accountability should be a key factor in any organisation. SA 8000 is the most widely recognised global standard for managing human rights in the workplace. It provides a comprehensive and flexible system for managing ethical workplace conditions throughout global supply chains.
The SA 8000 standard provides a framework for a Social Accountability Management System that supports continuous improvement and will send a strong message to your stakeholders that you operate your business in a fair and equitable manner.
The standard sets out requirements that cover:
- Child Labour and Forced Labour
- Health and Safety
- Freedom of Association and Right to Collective Bargaining
- Discrimination
- Discipline
- Working Hours
- Compensation
- Management Systems
The SA 8000 framework allows an organisation to understand, describe and control its significant social impacts, ensure compliance with legislation and continually improve its business operations. The standard is particularly relevant to organisations wishing to foster good customer relations and those reliant on long supply chains.
What are the benefits of SA 8000?
Benefits include:
- Drives company values into action.
- Enhances company and brand reputation.
- Improves employee recruitment, retention and productivity.
- Supports better supply chain management and performance.
- Provides clear and credible assurance to customers for ethical purchasing decisions.
- Productive and disciplinary practices in the workplace
An SA 8000 certification can be used as an effective sales and marketing tool, giving your company the competitive edge. By demonstrating an innovative and forward thinking approach to social accountability issues, you will not only improve morale within your company, but will also lead to a better public perception of your company.
Blackmores provide support for your organisation to be accredited by Social Accountability Accreditation Services (SAAS) to offer a global SA 8000 certification.
Publicising your commitment to social accountability will raise your company’s profile and also lead to better community awareness of social activities. It will also demonstrate your commitment to social accountability and provide confidence and credibility to your customers, trade partners, stakeholders, regulators and local authorities.
How we can help
Blackmores specialise in helping you to implement and maintain your SA 8000 Social Accountability Management System across London, Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire, and UK wide. We can also assist with International locations, having experience of working in 27 other countries.
- Conduct an SA8000 Gap Analysis – To help establish your strengths and weaknesses.
- SA8000 E-learning – Learn at your own pace with our online courses via the isologyhub.
- SA8000 isologists® – We have a skilled team of isologists®to help you implement a Social Accountability Management System. From London to the UAE, we have experience working internationally across many sectors.
- Internal Audits – We can help you to plan and conduct Internal Audits to verify your compliance with SA 8000.
- On-Site support – We can provide support during External Audits carried out by Certification Bodies.
- Request a quote for Certification – We can send a request for quote to 3 UKAS certified Certification Bodies on your behalf. This is done free of charge on request.

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