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August 2010
In This Issue
1. Consultation on Promoting Stakeholder Engagement and Responsibility in China
2. SAI Raises Concerns About Rights of Workers' Advocates in Bangladesh
3. SA8000 & Unions: An Alliance in Defense of Fundamental Workers' Rights
4. CSR in Egypt: Interview with Mohamed El-Husseiny
5. Why 'Doing Good' Can Be Good Business
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29 September, 2010
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7-8 October, 2010
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Social Accountability International (SAI) is a non-profit, multi-stakeholder organization established to advance the human rights of workers and the health of enterprises by promoting decent work conditions, labor rights, and corporate social responsibility through voluntary standards.

SAI- Human Rights at Work
Website: www.sa-intl.org

For newsletter inquiries contact: Joleen Ong, [email protected]
topConsultation on Promoting Stakeholder Engagement and Social Responsibility in China
Stakeholder Consultation Convenes in Guangzhou

[Meeting coordinators and participants, from left: Grace Lau-HKQAA, Fang Ming-DNV, Peter Zhou-Best Buy Asia Pacific, Jane Liu- SAI, Rochelle Zaid-SAAS, Liang Xiaohui-CATAC, Kevin Xian-DNV, Johnny Chan-HKQAA, Vincent Chen-HKQAA, Martin Ma-SAI, Judy Gearhart-SAI]
On July 22, SAI, SAAS, and Solidaridad worked together with several partners- the Hong Kong Quality Assurance Agency (HKQAA), the China National Textile & Apparel Council (CNTAC), the Business Social Compliance Initiative (BSCI), and the Sino-German CSR Project - to  convene a one-day multi-stakeholder event in Guangzhou.  The event brought together social auditors, social compliance officers, and labor rights experts, and included 50 representatives from over 30 organizations, representing brands and suppliers, auditing firms, NGOs, grass-roots legal aid organizations, and academia.

Pan Ying from IQNet (right), Liu Chao from the Little Bird Migrant Worker Center (left), and Zeng Feiyang from the Panyu Migrant Worker Center (far left) with Professor Qu Ning (center), from the Guangdong Institute of Women's Studies, as she discusses women workers' issues.
The conveners proposed the meeting as a way to help improve upon the exchange of information between social compliance auditors and organizations working to support workers through worker training, grievance handling, or other social programs. The group discussed the most significant challenges to compliance with voluntary social standards and the potential advantages of setting up an ongoing multi-stakeholder working group.  Among the most salient issues requiring additional research and guidance in China, the group identified: social insurance requirements; interpretations of working hour laws and overtime dispensation; and gender discrimination. >>Read more

Click here to view more photos from this consultation

For more information, contact Joleen Ong, [email protected]
SAI Raises Concerns About Rights of Workers' Advocates in Bangladesh

On July 30 and 31, worker protests surrounding the national wage board in Bangladesh resulted in violence and police crackdowns. On August 13, government authorities detained representatives from the Bangladesh Center for Worker Solidarity (BCWS). SAI, several other non-governmental organizations and the US Congress sent letters to express concern and urge the Bangladeshi government to ensure the rights of all those involved. 

Click here to read SAI's full letters of concern, which were signed and supported by members of SAI's multi-stakeholder Advisory and Governing Boards.  

For more information, contact Joleen Ong, [email protected]
"SA8000 and Unions:  An Alliance in the Defense of Fundamental Workers' Rights"
SAI Facilitates a Workshop in S�o Paulo with Bank Workers' Unions

Adriano Costa (far right) leads the workshop on SA8000 with representatives of bank workers' unions
On July 14-15, 2010, SAI's local partner BSD Consulting, headquartered in Sao Paolo, Brazil, facilitated a workshop with bank workers' unions, titled "SA8000 and Unions:  An Alliance in the Defense of Fundamental Workers' Rights."  

The focus of the workshop was to strengthen relations with the trade union sector in a key area of SA8000 certifications. The workshop covered the origin of SA8000 and the different ways in which trade unions have been involved in its development and implementation. It emphasized the overall importance of worker involvement in the SA8000 Standard, and the role of worker empowerment in sustaining compliance. Participants included twenty bank workers' union members that represented four major banks operating in Brazil - Bradesco, HSBC, Santander, and Ita�/Unibanco.  Two of these banks are SA8000 Certified. >>Read more

For more information, please contact Elena Arengo- SAI Latin American Programs Manager, [email protected]
CSR in Egypt: Interview with Mohamed El-Husseiny

Mohamed El-Husseiny leads a training course on management system for social compliance in Egypt

Last August, SAI carried out its first-ever hands-on SA8000 auditor training course that included training at the facilities of three diverse companies-a potato processing company, a custom tufted rug manufacturer, and an appliance manufacturer. This hands-on component of the training course was part of a multi-phase project supported by Egypt's Industrial Modernization Center (IMC). Through this project, classroom training was combined with field experience to accelerate and deepen the learning of trainees.
 
As of June 2010, these three factories achieved SA8000 certification, the first three ever to be certified in Egypt. Mohamed El-Husseiny, Project Manager at the IMC, helped to coordinate the training last August, and has been in close contact with these three companies throughout their process to demonstrate social compliance to achieve SA8000 certification. Mr. El-Husseiny was in New York in early July to attend the auditor training course, and stopped by our office to provide some insight on SAI and CSR in Egypt, and the recent certification of the three companies. >>Read the full interview

For more information, contact Joleen Ong, [email protected]
  Why 'Doing Good' Can Be Good Business: The Future of Alta Gracia Apparel
SAI Interns Nathalie Herman & Dianne Milner assess whether Alta Gracia's Wage 'Experiment' should be considered a charitable move

The July 17, 2010 New York Times article, "Factory Defies Sweatshop Label, but Can It Thrive?" by Steven Greenhouse about the Alta Gracia factory in the Dominican Republic has received a significant amount of attention, as it seeks to prove that a business can thrive while paying workers a living wage. Knights Apparel has made the decision to pay its workers an estimated $500 per month, which is over three times the Dominican Republic's statutory minimum wage. The CEO of Knights Apparel, Joseph Bozich, hopes to prove that "doing good can be good business," and he is optimistic about the factory and its employees' future. Workers will clearly benefit from this wage increase, but less recognized is the potential benefit to Alta Gracia's business. >>Read more
 
For more information, contact Nathalie Herman, [email protected], and Dianne Milner, [email protected].
Highlights and Announcements

Participants from the SA8000 Basic Auditor Training Course in Dubai, UAE, August 1-5, 2010 (Photo courtesy of SAI UAE Authorized Representative- Sanjiv Singh)
July 2010-
The Corporate Responsibility Code Book, 2nd Ed. Published by Greenleaf, author Deborah Leipziger's revised second edition is a key reference text on corporate codes of conduct. The SA8000 standard is included, along with ETI's base code, and others. Order a copy

July 22- Consultation on Promoting Stakeholder Engagement and Social Responsibility in China SAI Program Director- Judy Gearhart, SAI China Program Director-Martin Ma, SAI China
Participants from the SA8000 Auditor Training Course in Shenzhen, China, August 16-20, 2010
Program Manager-Jane Liu, and SAAS Executive Director- Rochelle Zaid coordinated and participated in these two events in Guangzhou, China.

July 23- SA8000 Field Auditor Calibration Meeting Following the consultation on July 22, SAI & SAAS collaborated to convene this meeting which touched on key local issues such as working hours and wages, and included some participants from the previous event.

July 29-The Living Wage: Concepts & Calculations SAI Program Director Judy
Participants from the SA8000 Basic Auditor Training Course in New Delhi, India, July 26-30 2010
Gearhart was hosted by the International Society of Sustainability Professionals (ISSP) to carry out this online webinar as part of an ongoing series coordinated by ISSP. Learn more about the webinar and view the presentation.

August 2010- Send Us Your Best (Training) Shot! Thanks to Sherry Li, Sarath Chandran, and Sanjiv Singh for sharing training photos. Got something to share? Send Kate Critchell your best shot!

August 2010- Standards Systems Academy Feasibility Study: Call for Tenders
ISEAL Alliance is calling for tenders to undertake a feasibility study to deepen the understanding of how a standards systems academy could be designed and implemented in order to roll out a global financially sustainable training program within 3-5 years. Deadline September 15
 
August 24- The Networking Action Blog, produced by Steve Waddell, founder of Networking Action, cite SAI in his post, Multi-Stakeholder Change Networks' Tasks.