In February, SAI released its Tenth Anniversary Report. We invite you to look back with us through a decade of milestones and lessons learned in our work to improve workplaces worldwide. Start with SAI’s founding vision, then follow the development of our SA8000 Standard and verification system, its extension to other standards, and the growth of our capacity building and training programs and multi-stakeholder partnerships. The Tenth Anniversary Report is available on our website, www.sa-intl.org
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On May 1, 2008, SAI released the third edition of its core standard, SA8000,a process that required nearly two years of multiple public and expert reviews and discussions. SA8000-2008 is in compliance with the International Social and Environmental Accreditation and Labeling Alliance (ISEAL) Code of Good Practice for Setting Standards and incorporates lessons learned from the field, as well as changing conditions on the ground.
SAI’s multi-stakeholder effort, Project Cultivar is progressing in its building of local capacity to improve working conditions in the agricultural sector in Nicaragua, Honduras, and the Dominican Republic. This four-year project, emphasizing compliance with national labor laws, funded by the US Department of Labor, has so far trained close to 350 workers, managers, and government officials. For example, in the Dominican Republic Cultivar has worked with undocumented Haitian banana workers. These workers are left with no legal protections such as social security or access to labor conciliation processes of the state authorities. Support from individuals like you can help address such disparities.
This year SAI completed the Continuous Improvement in the Central American Workplace (CIMCAW) Alliance project. This important initiative among SAI; USAID; Development Alternatives, Inc.; Gap Inc.; Timberland; Limited Brands; Wal Mart; and the International Textile, Garment, and Leather Workers’ Federation assisted local Central American apparel suppliers in Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic in creating a better workplace.
In April, the CIMCAW Alliance welcomed Billabong International Ltd. as an affiliate member. Billabong International is known among the world’s youth and sports enthusiasts for its surf, skateboarding, and snowboarding apparel and accessories. Billabong International has products available in 100 countries, as well as a large supplier base. As a SAI Corporate Programs supporting member, the company has adopted SA8000 as the workplace standard throughout its supply chain. As a result of the opportunities created by Billabong International’s affiliate member status, CIMCAW expanded its programs to include Honduras and Guatemala.
Made-by-China, a joint project involving SAI and the Dutch development organization Solidaridad, aims to develop an ethical supply chain in China for its flagship clothing line that incorporates organic cotton production, socially responsible manufacturing, and fair trade practices. Due to this project, roughly 70 workers and the management of a farm in Korla, Xinjiang, China aimed for international organic certification when they began this year’s sowing season of cotton. The SAI/Solidaridad China team has been providing technical assistance to local farmers since November 2007, as well as helping to ensure decent working conditions are guaranteed throughout the farming season. SAI/Solidaridad will also offer assistance to two extremely poor Uyghur villages in Xinjiang in order to set up cooperatives (to improve both the villagers’ livelihood and community) and upgrade farming techniques. The project has been successful in providing potable water to several Uyghur villages. Still Uyghur villagers face discrimination and poverty, with incomes of less than $250 each year. Your support will help SAI continue its important programming in Xinjiang.
SAI is pleased to announce the formal incorporation and launch of Social Accountability Accreditation Services (SAAS). SAAS conducts and oversees accreditation activities for auditors qualified to issue certification to SA8000 and other social standards. SAAS began its accreditation work in 1997 as a department within SAI and was formally established as its own independent, not-for-profit organization in 2007. In 1998, SAAS began accrediting qualified business and non-profit organizations to perform certification audits for the SA8000 Standard.
SAI’s Corporate Programs continue to grow, with the addition of nine new supporting members: Anvil Knitwear, TNT, Carrefour Group, Chiquita, General Mills, Promotional Product Solutions (PPS) LLC, beeline GmbH, Cocona, and Disney. Just recently, SAI started working with knitwear manufacturer, Anvil inc. on improving their supply chain management and certifying their factory in Honduras to meet the SA8000 standard.
Over the years, SAI’s Training programs have benefited well over 10,000 participants in the understanding and implementing of social performance standards. We have conducted training courses in over 30 countries for corporate managers, auditors, factory managers, and workers. This year we conducted our first Webinar (online training course), a platform which we will further explore to increase the capacity and accessibility of our training programs. We also successfully launched our new Professional Development Series-one- to two-day courses targeted to the specific needs of sourcing personnel, corporate compliance managers, suppliers, and internal auditors.
In July SAI moved into a new and considerably larger office, located a short walk from Grand Central Station in New York, at 15 West 44 Street. SAI still lacks the funds for some needed office upgrades, including audio-visual equipment, teleconference systems, and IT equipment. Your support would help us leverage the pro-bono software programming support we are presently receiving from Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), one of our important corporate partners.
Success for SAI means the protection of human rights at all workplaces around the world. You can help advance this mission by supporting our work. In the past, such support has allowed SAI to successfully extend the global reach of its programs. Your support is needed even more this year, as managers face diminished demand for consumer goods and so many jobs are at risk. Good human resource management systems and verified compliance with a respected decent work standard can make a life or death difference for a supplier factory or farm and its workers. With your contribution, SAI will continue to promote human rights at work.