Readiness for SA8000 — Social Accountability

1 Are no children below the legal minimum age employed, is age checked on hiring, and are young workers protected?

2 Is work voluntary: no documents or wages are withheld, no deposits or recruitment fees are required, and workers are free to leave?

3 Is there a safe and healthy workplace, with risk assessment, training, PPE and access to drinking water and sanitary facilities?

4 Do you respect workers' right to form and join trade unions and to bargain collectively, without retaliation?

5 Are decisions on hiring, pay, training, promotion and dismissal made without discrimination, and is harassment not tolerated?

6 Do disciplinary practices respect dignity, with no corporal punishment, verbal abuse or pay deductions as punishment?

7 Do working hours comply with the law and the standard (normal hours up to 48, at least one day off in every 7, voluntary overtime of up to 12 hours a week, paid at a premium rate)?

8 Do wages meet at least the legal minimum wage, have you assessed whether they are enough for a decent standard of living, and are payslips clear?

9.1 Is there a written social accountability policy, with procedures and records, communicated to workers and interested parties?

9.2 Has a Social Performance Team (SPT) been set up with balanced representation of workers and management?

9.3 Is there a periodic written assessment of the risks of non-compliance with the standard?

9.4–9.5 Is implementation monitored, and are workers informed and involved?

9.6 Is there a confidential grievance mechanism for workers and interested parties, without retaliation?

9.7 Do you cooperate with external audits and with interested parties?

9.8 Are nonconformities dealt with through corrective and preventive actions?

9.9 Are workers and managers trained on the requirements of the standard?

9.10 Are suppliers, subcontractors and private employment agencies evaluated and monitored for their labour practices?