Audit Assurance
Ensuring quality and consistency in social certification programs
Assurance services support social responsibility and accountability by ensuring the high-quality and consistent implementation of standards and certification systems designed to protect people and their communities.
The Value of Assurance
Oversight by an independent third-party—called accreditation or assurance—assures that social audits are undertaken impartially, competently, and effectively, providing confidence to stakeholders and reducing risk to the system. Accreditation provides independent validation that social audit systems fulfill their intended requirements.
Accreditation
We develop consistent, reliable, and transparent oversight systems for social auditing programs that align with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, ILO Conventions, and national labor laws.
Capacity Building
We offer guidance and technical assistance for developing social standards, guidance, policies, auditing methodologies, verification systems, and all the tools and skills needed to implement them.
Verification
We help organizations verify that their management systems, codes of conduct, and other normative policies are implemented effectively and used consistently and appropriately.
Social Accountability Accreditation Services (SAAS) (a division of SAI) provides assurance services for the SA8000 certification system and for other social accountability initiatives. As recognition that audit programs must be of high quality, SAAS evaluates and accredits auditing organizations to assure they are qualified to hold their clients accountable to social standards.
Assurance Programs & Services
Accreditation
SAI (via SAAS) is the only international body offering third-party accreditation for social audit certification systems. We have built our reputation by developing consistent, reliable, and transparent oversight systems for social auditing programs. We accredit Certification Bodies (CBs) to perform audits based on social management standards that promote decent workplace conditions aligned with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, ILO Conventions, and national labor laws.
SAAS and the SA8000 System
Only SAAS-accredited certification bodies can award valid SA8000 certifications. Accreditation in accordance with internationally recognized ISO standards assures SA8000 audits and certifications are implemented consistently, reliably, and effectively. SAAS oversees and monitors the governance, management, and remediation systems of certification bodies to assure the desired SA8000® outcomes. Learn more.
Codes of Conduct
‘Code of Conduct’ programs aim to improve labor conditions within a company, a group of companies, or throughout a supply chain(s). Typically, a company’s code of conduct defines processes and requirements that their suppliers must meet as a condition of maintaining their business relationship and it is usually enforced by periodic audits to assess compliance. SAAS works with industry and global initiatives to develop code of conduct programs that align with internationally recognized labor and ISO standards and oversee their auditing and implementation.
Other Accreditation Programs
Verification
SAAS develops policies and conducts verification and quality assurance for organizations seeking to demonstrate transparency and compliance with social and environmental management systems. Through third-party oversight and effective sampling methods, SAAS helps organizations verify that their management systems, codes of conduct, and other normative policies are implemented effectively and used consistently and appropriately.
Capacity Building
SAAS offers technical assistance for organizations in developing social standards, guidance, policies, auditing methodologies, and associated verification systems, including assessment and evaluation tools, auditor training and calibration, and internal processes and procedures. SAAS has expertise in creating auditable standards, developing relevant and measurable processes, and creating impartial and applicable policies for social and environmental auditing.
