Issue Areas

SAI’s mission is to advance human rights in workplaces globally. We work with companies, governments, NGOs, labor unions, and communities to protect workers and improve conditions in many different ways. While every project and situation is unique, there are certain solutions that we believe raise expectations and performance and certain issue areas that we advance in all of our work

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Management Systems

A management system is a set of processes for implementing policies consistently, monitoring outcomes, and building on experience. At SAI, we believe that management systems are key for integrating socially responsible practices in daily business operations and supporting continuous improvement in social performance. We promote a management systems-approach in all of our work with suppliers and brands.

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Worker Voice & Engagement

Part of SAI’s philosophy is that socially responsible workplaces benefit business while securing fundamental human rights. An essential element for achieving this outcome is worker engagement. Over our long experience facilitating dialogue between management and workers, we have found that including a diverse group of employees from every level and job function in decision-making and problem-solving processes leads to more practical, cheaper, and more sustainable outcomes. Including worker voice in these processes also contributes to improving workplace communication, relationships, and worker satisfaction.

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Living Wage

SAI has included payment of a living wage as one of our core principles for decent work since our founding in 1997, long before the idea was widely accepted by other organizations and companies. Our SA8000 Standard has emphasized the importance of a living wage for workers’ rights since the very beginning, and we have worked individually with brands and retailers for over 20 years on strategies to improve wages in their companies and supply chains.

SAI works across all of our programs to advance decent wages, work toward a living wage, and promote decent work.

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Worker Well-being

Health & safety issues are often the first thing that comes to mind when considering working conditions and worker protection. Health and safety are a baseline requirement for decent work and often the first thing that we will address for improving conditions, but worker protection goes well beyond these concerns to include everything from discrimination to forced labor.