We’re excited to share that the new version of our SA8000 Standard for Decent Work will launch soon! SAI has been undertaking a full revision of SA8000 to ensure that it continues to serve as a leading benchmark for ethical workplaces at all levels of the value chain, reflecting evolving human rights risks and good practices.
Where are we in the process?
This year, we:
- Published the SA8000:2026 Working Draft in March 2025, incorporating stakeholder input from in-person workshops, webinars, individual consultations, and an online feedback form. ➡️ Why a Working Draft? Learn more.
- Published SA8000:2026 FAQs and the SA8000 Certification Timeline for transitioning to SA8000:2026.
- Launched the updated SA8000 Basic Auditor Training Course in September 2025. Learn more about the new course and see our training schedule to find a course near you.
What comes next?
The final version of the SA8000:2026 Standard will be published on January 1, 2026! Along with the final version of the revised Standard, the following resources will also launch on January 1:
- 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.
- Getting Started with SA8000:2026® and Due Diligence + Guided Self-Assessment Training Course: Introduction to SA8000:2026 for organizations, with a guided self-assessment to check current performance against the Standard requirements.
- SA8000:2026 Auditor Upgrade Training: Required for anyone who completed the Basic Auditor Training to maintain their credential. Learn more.
All resources will be available on our website – stay tuned for the launch! For questions regarding SA8000:2026 and the transition process, please contact sa8000@sa-intl.org.
