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Social Accountability International

Social Accountability International. Carnegie Endowment Washington, DC, 2006. Judy Gearhart Program Director. Setting Standards for a just world. SA8000 System Complaints Process Appeals Process Examples and Dilemmas. S A I -- SA8000. Multi-Stakeholder Advisory Board.

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Social Accountability International

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  1. Social Accountability International Carnegie Endowment Washington, DC, 2006 Judy Gearhart Program Director Setting Standards for a just world

  2. SA8000 System Complaints Process Appeals Process Examples and Dilemmas S A I -- SA8000

  3. Multi-StakeholderAdvisory Board • Voluntary System • SA8000 based on the principles of: • UDHR, CRC, CEDAW • 12 ILO Conventions • Implementation draws on ISO management systems

  4. Continuous Stakeholder Engagement • Continuous input through multi-stakeholder AB and their constituents • Respond to system level critiques • Seek comments on and redraft SA8000 every 5 years • Collaborative research on best practice implementation and auditing • Consultations and revisions to Guidance

  5. SA8000 Covers • Right to organize and bargain collectively • Discrimination • Child Labor • Forced Labor • Health & Safety • Disciplinary Practices • Working Hours • Compensation • Management System

  6. MANAGING CONFORMANCE Plan, Do, Check, Act Model Identify problem Suppliers not conforming to requirements Overtime Hours exceeding limit Verify Effectiveness Supervisory excesses on floor Health and safety concerns – use of protective gear Plan corrective action Discrimination Wages don’t meet the BNW Children hired in error Implement plan

  7. SA8000 Impact • 881 facilities certified; covering over 510,000 workers in 50 countries, across 57 industries. • Thousands of facilities have been audited to the SA8000 standard & are working toward compliance. • SAI Corporate Involvement Program engages brand level commitment

  8. SA8000 Certified Facilities,by Industry

  9. SAI Training SAI has carried out training in 30 countries on five continentsIn 2004 alone, SAI reached +2,000 people through its courses for workers, facility managers & auditors SAI offers:Worker & Manager TrainingAuditor TrainingSupplier TrainingCustom Training

  10. Move beyond endemic problems SAI Program in China Goals: • Improve workplace conditions, working with local managers and workers. • Promote worker participation, freedom of association & participatory management systems. • Build capacity locally among emerging independent worker rights groups.

  11. Worker Training: SAI and ITGLWF program coordinators work with local affiliates to present materials to study circle leaders in Coimbatore, India © Social Accountability International

  12. Complaints Process • 3 Levels: Factory; Certification body; SAI • No reprisals against complainant • How to file: • Anyone can file a complaint • No required format; forms available to guide • Complainants name can be kept confidential • Resolution reported to complainant • SAI resolutions made public

  13. Complaints Process Cont. • Recognize receipt of complaint – formal and informal – to complainant • Verify name of locale, dates, incident specifics • Contact certification body and review audit notes and process • If complaint substantiated, instruct CB to investigate at their expense • Review reports from CB and resolution • Track corrective actions agreed in resolution • If not substantiated – request more information and schedule witness audit of CB at workplace in question within a year

  14. Appeals Process • Taking a complaint to the next level; • if dissatisfaction with a decision by a CB; • SAI intervenes (SAI may also intervene if CB investigation or resolution is insufficient). • SAI convenes multi-stakeholder Appeals Review Panel from SAI – AB to review the case • Objections to SAI’s Appeal resolution – report to SAI Advisory Board and made public

  15. Questions & Dilemmas • Timing and pressure balance • Seek change & avoid flight • China shoe factory • If we respond quickly can we prevent conflict escalating? • Engage other brands/buyers • Kenya pineapple farm

  16. Questions & Dilemmas • Interpreting “good faith“ • Protracted legal battles • Find the right field investigators • Ability to investigate complaint in the context of problems endemic to that country • Set appropriate expectations • Can’t reverse court decisions • Indonesia garment factory • Confidentiality and Communicating results • Public reports = incentive for company to find amicable resolution

  17. Questions & Dilemmas • Brand level involvement • Define Scope • Clarify expectations • Define clear, finite process for engaging 3rd party investigation and involvement • Multi-stakeholder AB oversight and decision • Consider outside mediators

  18. www.sa-intl.org

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