U.S. Ambassador to Nicaragua, Robert J. Callahan [above right] discussed Finca Coquimba's banana production process with co-owners and brothers Jose [above left] and Eduardo Ubilla [above center].

On January 6, Dr. Barrera and Cultivar's local Nicaraguan partner Professionals for Corporate and Social Auditing (PASE) accompanied U.S. Ambassador to Nicaragua Robert J. Callahan and  U.S. Labor Attach� to Nicaragua Dan Carroll visited Finca Coquimba, a banana farm in the western town of Chinandega and Ingenio Monterrosa, the second largest sugar mill in the country which manages over five thousand workers during peak harvest season. Mr. Carroll's visits to these supplier farms in October and his positive impressions were featured in SAI's November newsletter. 

In compliance with Nicaraguan labor law, both producers reactivated their Joint Worker-Manager Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Committees that monitor and address workplace health and safety issues through the use of management systems as a result of their relationships with Project Cultivar.  In addition to receiving training on fundamental labor rights and occupational health and safety, both companies participated in additional specialized workshops which focused on the strengthening of their Joint Worker-Manager OSH Committees' operations.  The resulting increase in efficiency in managing and preventing accidents, absenteeism, and overall improvements in health and safety indicators, has had an important impact on the productivities of the farm and sugar mill. Indeed, the owner of Finca Coquimba cites Project Cultivar among the factors contributing to its rise from third to first place as the top banana producer in the nation in 2010.  Pleased with the positive feedback on labor rights compliance he witnessed during his visit, Ambassador Callahan remarked, "This model [of Project Cultivar] should be reproduced on other farms as well."

On January 12, 2011, Ambassador Llorens, accompanied Dr. Barrera, Matthew Fisher-Daly- SAI Project Manager, and Cultivar's local Honduran partner Center for Human Development (CDH), visited Finca Guaruma, a banana supplier with 190 workers located near the northern coast of Honduras.  Project Cultivar has trained approximately 25 percent of its management and staff on basic labor rights and the implementation of management systems for the provision of worker health and safety.  Finca Guaruma's Joint Worker-Manager OSH Committee was also reinvigorated after working with Cultivar.

All three of these farms, which are among the highest achievers in Project Cultivar, have active trade unions and their representatives have played a critical role in leading and expanding the impact of the training and supporting improvement initiatives in the area of health and safety measures on the farms.  Both farm managers and trainers acknowledge that the trade  union representatives will be a significant factor in sustaining changes in the future.

Project Cultivar is a USDOL funded initiative aimed at advancing labor rights in the agricultural sectors in three countries in the CAFTA-DR region. Over the course of four years in Nicaragua , the Dominican Republic and Honduras, Cultivar has trained a total of 1,800 workers, 262 managers, and 208 government representatives/NGOs in the CAFTA-DR region in the agricultural sector.

Click here to read the U.S. Embassy in Honduras' press release on Ambassador Llorens' visit to Finca Coquimba

For more information, contact Program Associate Eliza Wright at EWright@sa-intl.org.

Magen Tzedek Certification Mark

On January 5, 2011, representatives from SAI and SAAS conducted a one-day training session about the Magen Tzedek ethical certification in Chicago.  This training is part of SAI and SAAS' joint project with the Hekhsher Tzedek Commission to implement the Magen Tzedek ethical certification which will define good environmental, labor, animal welfare, and consumer protection practices. The Hekhsher Tzedek Commission authored the Magen Tzedek Standard, and this joint project seeks to utilize SAI and SAAS' expertise to create a complete auditing system.

The training session was led by Eileen Kaufman, SAI's Executive Director, Rochelle Zaid, SAAS' Executive Director, Jim Childress, SAAS' Lead Auditor, and Salah Husseini, SAAS' Project Manager.  Attendees included commission members Rabbi Morris Allen, Rabbi Julie Rosenfeld, Rabbi Michael Siegel, and Dr. Joe Regenstein and other members of the Hekhsher Tzedek Commission, who were joined by Patrick B�le, the Food Business Development Manager for the certification body Bureau Veritas, and representatives of possible field test sites. 

During the session, representatives from SAI & SAAS presented on certification and accreditation systems, the audit process, and the next steps in the process towards finalizing the certification system.  Attendees participated in planning a mock audit day, prepared mock interview questions, and engaged in an interview role-play whereby participants played the parts of employees, managers, auditors, and Subject Matter Experts (experts with specific knowledge on the five areas of the Magen Tzedek Standard), and conducted mock interviews in those roles.  

Following the training session, the teams are preparing for three field tests where the Magen Tzedek Standard will be tested in real-world conditions and revised accordingly.  The finalized Magen Tzedek Standard and Certification Program is expected in the summer/fall of 2011, which will be informed by the input from the results of the pilot tests.

Social Accountability Accreditation Services (SAAS) is pleased to announce the accreditation of the certification body, Institute of Quality & Control Ltd. (IQC), to perform SA8000 audits and issue certifications. IQC was founded in 1959 by the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Manufacturers Association of Israel. As a public entity for 44 years, IQC has been active in certification for a wide range of standards and inspections. It was privatized as a certification body in 2003

SAI only recognizes SA8000 certificates issued by qualified CBs granted accreditation by SAAS  and does not recognize the validity of SA8000 certificates issued by unaccredited organizations. There are now 20 certification bodies worldwide that are SAAS accredited and have received that formal recognition of competence.

December 30, 2010- Fast Company: The Year in CSR: The Four Trends of 2010 SAI was recognized in Fast Company's 2010 list as an accountability standard that companies participate in so they can measure the impact and demonstrate the value of CSR programs. Read article @http://bit.ly/hI7Ydy

January 2011 - Financial Advisor: "Leading the Way" SAI President Alice Tepper Marlin was interviewed by Financial Advisor Green about her journey as a pioneer in the CSR and socially responsible investing sectors. Read article @http://bit.ly/fL3zpt

January 2011 - ISEAL Standards Systems Academy Feasibility StudyCongratulations to BSD Consulting- Switzerland, who were selected to carry out this study in response to the ISEAL Alliance's call for tenders in September. BSD Switzerland is currently executing this study in collaboration with other members of the BSD network, including SAI Authorized Representative BSD Consulting- Brazil based in Sao Paulo, and Leading Standards, Germany.

January 3- SAI President Participates as Faculty Member at Wellesley College's Madeline Albright Institute for Global Affairs 2011 Program  Alice Tepper Marlin, a 1966 graduate of Wellesley, participated as a faculty member and featured speaker during this two week event. Download and to listen to an MP3 of her presentation, "SAI and Corporate Social Responsibility: How Voluntary Initiatives Can Shape Global Working Conditions" @http://bit.ly/i95RnS

January 18- SAI & UNGC Sponsor Book Launch, "Global Action Networks: Creating our future together" Author Steve Waddell, the founding Executive Director of the Global Action Network Net (GAN-Net), was introduced by SAI Executive Director Eileen Kaufmanand UNGC Executive Director Georg Kell at this event sponsored by SAI & the UNGC. 

January 31- Launch of GRI Focal Point USA SAI Executive Director Eileen Kaufman is expected to attend this interactive session at NYSE Euronext.