As workplaces and supply chains evolve to reflect the changing world around us, so do risks to workers’ rights. In an increasingly connected world, issues such as climate change, labor migration, and artificial intelligence require us to take collective and thoughtful approaches to upholding human rights at work. At the same time, systemic labor risks related to wages, discrimination, and working conditions, among others, remain ongoing challenges throughout supply chains – underscoring the need for due diligence at all levels. It is with all these challenges in mind that SAI has undertaken a revision of our SA8000® Standard for Decent Work. We are excited to announce that the new version of the Standard is now available!
Structured around aspirational human rights principles, SA8000:2026 is based on internationally recognized standards of decent work, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, ILO conventions, UN Guiding Principles for Business and Human Rights, and national laws. At the same time, it provides a practical implementation framework, applying a management-systems approach to social performance, grounded in leadership commitment, and the involvement of workers and stakeholders. Aligning with emerging due diligence regulations around the world, it emphasizes continual improvement and adaptability to new and varied labor risks.
SAI relies on a consultative process and the inclusion of diverse stakeholder perspectives in undertaking this revision process. We would like to thank the hundreds of stakeholders who provided feedback to the revision through in-person workshops, our online feedback form, interactive webinars, and individual consultations. Read more about how we collected feedback. We look forward to continuing to work together in advancing decent work around the world.
New Resources
- SA8000:2026 Indicator Library: Examples of processes, documents, metrics, impacts, and other evidence that help organizations and assessors understand and evaluate conformance to the SA8000 criteria.
- Training: Getting Started with SA8000:2026® and Due Diligence + Guided Self-Assessment. Introduction to SA8000:2026 for companies and organizations, with a guided self-assessment to check current performance against the Standard requirements.
- Training: SA8000:2026 Auditor Upgrade Course. Required for anyone who completed the Basic Auditor Training previously to maintain their credential.
For more information about the revision process, the Certification timeline, or edits made to the SA8000:2026 Working Draft, click here.
For questions regarding SA8000:2026 and the transition process, please contact sa8000@sa-intl.org.
