Social Accountability

Demonstrating responsible business

S O C I A L

A C C O U N TA B I L I T Y

S O C I A L A C C O U N TA B I L I T Y

Global retailers must now seek assurance that their supply chains are transparent and accountable.

D E M O N S T R AT I N G R E S P O N S I B L E
Against this backdrop, voluntary initiatives have filled the breach. Social Accountability

BUSINESS

Internationals SA 8000:2001 is most widely recognised global standard for managing human rights in the workplace and enables businesses to demonstrate their

Social Accountability

Social Accountability has for some time been a marker for demonstrating Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). The stakeholders in your business are increasingly looking for transparency in business practice and supply chain to ensure basic human rights in the workplace. Utilising the rapid advancements in global media, NonGovernmental Organisations (NGOs) and investment analysts scrutinise businesses to assess that minimum standards are upheld in the workplace and ensure that workers are getting a fair deal. Recent scandals have seen large global multi-nationals uncover sweatshops and forced labour in their global supply chains, which has lead to consumer boycotts and share price de-valuation. Consumers now demand more information about the source of the products they buy.

commitment to ensuring a fair and equitable working environment. SA 8000 is the first auditable standard in this field and therefore provides the framework for assurance for all stakeholders that social accountability is being stewarded by management. There also exists, a number of private, voluntary initiatives that aim to demonstrate sound Social Accountability management. These will often take the form of industry or retail Codes of Conduct (CoC) and will include many of the criteria of SA 8000, whilst incorporating more bespoke aspects such as environmental management, food safety and hygiene. BSI is capable of providing second or third party assessments against any such standard or code.

FEATURES AND BENEFITS OF SOCIAL ACCOUNTABILITY

Independent assurance that your social accountability management system is achieving the goal of protecting human rights and ethical business practice is vital. However the benefits for your business are wide ranging. Transparency An independent audit demonstrates your organisations commitment to transparent business practice and social accountability. Certification may be publicised as a part of your companys CSR report and be a demonstrable step towards ethical governance. Integrity An independent audit provides assurance to stakeholders that your management practices are of a consistently high standard. Certification to a standard such as SA 8000 promotes continual improvement of workplace conditions. Consistency A consistent approach to managing social accountability is vital and BSIs audit will ensure that your system retains that consistency across one, or many, locations. Credibility BSIs audit will lend credibility to your social accountability management system for interested parties. This has implications for employees, customers, shareholders, NGOs, insurance companies and government. Reliability BSI has ensured that its service is reliable and consistent. Through accreditation from Social Accountability International (SAI) for the delivery of audits to SA 8000, BSI has achieved an important independent professional endorsement of its social accountability auditing service. For more information on BSIs Social Accountability services, please see our web pages at: www.bsi-global.com/socialaccountability

THE REGISTRATION PROCESS There are 9 steps to achieving registration with BSI.

Our professional team will do everything they can to help you.

Step 1
INITIAL ENQUIRY

Notes:

Step 2
PRE-APPLICATION QUESTIONNAIRE

This will enable BSI to identify the type of Social Accountability assessment you require, whether to a defined standard or Code of Conduct and provide you with a quotation. Notes:

BSI forwards a proposal to you for the assessment and registration.

Step 3
QUOTATION

Notes:

You submit a formal application to BSI. This enables BSI to commence the assessment planning process.

Step 4
APPLICATION SUBMITTED

Notes:

Step 5
ASSESSMENT TEAM APPOINTED

Your principal contact with BSI throughout the registration process and beyond will have knowledge concerning the nature of your business, the local business environment and will offer support whilst you develop your systems. Notes:

Step 6A
PRE-ASSESSMENT (OPTIONAL)

6A: A gap-analysis can be undertaken to establish your organisations readiness for certification assessment. 6B: The BSI assessment team reviews the management system documentation and the definition of the business processes. Notes:

Step 6B
PRE AUDIT

Step 7
CERTIFICATION ASSESSMENT

The formal assessment by your BSI assessment team is entirely objective, checking that your system meets the relevant criteria. You will be informed of the recommendation before the assessment team leaves your premises. Notes:

On successful completion of the assessment, BSI delivers a certificate of conformity or compliance statement in respect to your required criteria.

Step 8
REGISTRATION

Notes:

Depending on the particular requirements of the Code or Standard, continual assessment of your Social Accountability system will be required.

Step 9
CONTINUAL ASSESSMENT

Notes:

THE BUSINESS CASE FOR SOCIAL ACCOUNTABILITY ASSESSMENT

The business benefits of demonstrating good CSR management through independent Social Accountability audits are numerous and include: Brand Reputation The perception of your organisations brand is vital in todays markets. Consumers are more aware of the issues and are demanding transparency in ethical trading. Stakeholder Perception Employees, customers and shareholders, to name but a few, will have more confidence in your management of key business risks. Investment Attraction The European Socially Responsible Investment (SRI) market for institutional investors was worth 336 billion Euros in 2003. These investors are looking for demonstrable indicators of sound SA management. Risk Management Scandals involving large multi-national organisations, publicised by NGOs, have seen share prices plummet. Differentiation In a crowded market place, a transparent social accountability management system could deliver true product differentiation with customers.

Social Accountability with SA 8000

BSI PROVIDING SOLUTIONS, PRODUCING RESULTS

When you choose BSI as your business partner, you are also choosing our international reputation for excellence. As the largest and most respected management systems registrar in the world, we have registered customers in 110 countries, supported by BSI Group Offices and are regarded universally as a global service provider of the highest quality and integrity. In addition to management systems registration, BSI offer a range of associated services that provide real added value, including the development of schemes, systems assessment, product testing, training courses and seminars.

BENEFITS OF REGISTRATION WITH BSI

Use of the highly regarded and powerful BSI Registered Logo Internationally experienced assessment staff who undergo the most
thorough training and qualification process of any other registrar, to ensure that our service is backed by a pool of specialists with unrivalled knowledge and expertise.

Entry into our Client Directory database used by the most discerning
buyers. www.bsi-global.com/client+directory

Our registration service is accredited by a number of independent

accreditation bodies.

Use of our dedicated client web pages just for customers

www.bsi-global.com/j4c

Our Integrated Assessment Service (IAS) is designed to help organisations

reach registration to a number of management system standards, cost-effectively with minimal disruption to work activity.

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