Benefits of adopting SA8000 includes-

Improved Staff Morale Reliable business partnerships Enhanced Competitiveness Less staff turnover and Better worker-manager communication

Introduction:
The objective of SA8000 is to improve the Employee Working Conditions .The standard has been developed by the Council on Economic Priorities Accreditation Agency later named as Social Accountability International (SAI).The SAI oversees the standard SA8000 is based on United Nations and International Labor Organization (ILO) conventions and declarations, national law, and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) management systems.

The standard is based on the following eight human rights components:

• Child Labor
  
• Forced Labor
  
• Health and Safety
  
• Freedom of Association
  
• Discrimination
  
• Discipline
  
• Working hours
  
• Remuneration

Certified facilities must integrate these standards into their management systems.

Requirement of the standard SA8000 measures the performance of organisations in eight key areas:

• Child labour is not permitted.
  
• Forced labour is not permitted.
  
• Health and safety have to be assured.
  
• Freedom of association and collective bargaining to be guaranteed.
  
• Discrimination is not permitted.
  
• Disciplinary practices are not permitted.
  
• Working hours not to exceed 48 hrs a week, with a maximum of 12 hrs overtime.
  
• Remuneration shall be sufficient.

The systems put in place to achieve this certification are an ongoing process and involves the participation of employees to ensure systemic change.

The SA 8000 certification facilitates the integration of labour standards into factory management systems. This certification enables organisations to rigorously ensure the code compliance demanded by international labour laws and the market.

Who can apply for SA 8000?

• Organizations who wish to have an independent assessment of their social record and that of their contractors.
  
• Companies acting as contractors who produce goods for U.S. and European companies and wish to demonstrate to companies and consumers that they are treating workers fairly.
  
• Development or multilateral organizations seeking to ensure that they procure from companies that are not exploitative.
  
• Improves organization brand image nationally and internationally.
  
• Improves probability of recruitment of right candidates, retaining the talent pool.
  
• Improves the productivity of work force.
  
• Improves involvement of work force in the development of the organization.
  
• The organization develops intrinsically and not just grows.
  
• Facilitates in improving the performance of the supply chain.
  
• Ensure the adherence of global standards and minimize the risk of litigations.
  
• Improves the level of commitment and loyalty in employees, customers and other stake holders.