On June 2014, SAI published the fourth edition of the International Standard SA8000 – SA8000:2014 Social Accountability 8000. The newly published standard superseded the previous versions of 2001, 2004 and 2008.
SA8000 is an auditable standard, setting out the voluntary requirements to be met by employers in the workplace to empower and protect all personnel within and organization’s control and influence who provide products or services for that organization; including personnel employed by the organization itself and by its suppliers, sub-contractors, subsuppliers and home workers.
The requirements specified by SA8000 for setting up and managing an effective social accountability management system are applicable to any organization, regardless of its type, size and nature of activities.
According to the requirements of the accreditation by SAAS (Social Accountability Accreditation services), the organizations certified by IQNet Ltd in compliance with SA8000 established a time frame from the issue of the standard to accomplish the transition from SA8000:2008 to SA8000:2014. The transition period shall end at May 15, 2017. The assessments for transition should be conducted during the regular surveillance or renewal audit conducted, at the latest before 30 April 2016. This will allow the correction and corrective action to any potential non-conformities and avoid a period without a valid certificate.
For more information about IQNet Ltd Transition Policy to SA8000:2014, click here.