With a steady rise in the number of corporate scandals, companies recognise the need to consider the effects corporate activities and policies can have on their reputations and the markets. Companies wanting to maintain a good reputation have to think carefully about the social impact of their operations, in addition to the conditions under which employees and business partners operate. This means controlling and putting into practice the respect and promotion of human rights for all workers throughout the whole supply, production and distribution chain.

SA 8000 certification enables you to demonstrate your commitment to social accountability and employee/customer satisfaction. What's more, it's part of continuously improving your corporate image.

SA 8000 is an international certification standard that encourages organisations to develop, maintain and apply socially acceptable practices in the workplace. It was created in 1989 by Social Accountability International (SAI), an affiliate of the Council on Economic Priorities, and is viewed as the most globally acceptable independent workplace standard. It can be applied to any company, of any size, in any part of the world. The areas it addresses include forced and child labour, health and safety, freedom of association and collective bargaining, discrimination, disciplinary practices, working hours, compensation and management systems.

As well as setting standards for workers worldwide, SA 8000 also embraces existing international agreements, including conventions from the International Labour Organisation, the Universal Declaration on Human Rights, and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

The international reputation SA 8000 brings is a boost to any company's reputation and credibility. It proves your company's ethics and values with regards to employee well-being, business partners and customers. At the same time, it can improve the management and performance of your supply chain. SA 8000 allows you to ensure compliance with global standards and reduces the risk of malpractice, public exposure and possible litigation. Demonstrating a real commitment to social accountability can transform your corporate image and reinforce loyalties among employees, customers and stakeholders, which in turn impacts the quality of your working environment as well as productivity.

Certifying your management systems against SA 8000 through SGS will help your organisation develop and improve social accountability. Your SA 8000 certificate from SGS enables you to demonstrate proper social accountability when bidding for international contracts or expanding locally to accommodate new business.