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January 2011
In This Issue
1. SAI President Recognized as one of 2010's Top 100 Thought Leaders
2. U.S. Ambassadors to Nicaragua & Honduras Visit Cultivar Suppliers
3. Anvil Knitwear Joins Cotton Made in Africa Initiative
4. Announcing 2011 Appointments & Departures at SAI
5. First Training about Magen Tzedek Standards Certification
6. Siemens Integrity Initiative: TI-USA Enlists SAI as Project Partner
7. Using Labor & Environmental Standard Compliance in Trade Finance
8. New SA8000 Certification Statistics
9. Israel-based ICQ is SAAS' 20th Accredited Certification Body
10. Highlights & Announcements
Job Openings

Global Program Staff Senior Manager

Social Accountability International(SAI)

Senior Development Manager
Social Accountability International(SAI)


Internships

SAI and SAAS
now accepting applications for Summer 2011 interns
New York, NY

SAI's e-Newsletter Archive
Invitation for SA8000 Certified Facilities
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Sign up for the SA8000 Supplier Database to help increase your business!

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Upcoming Events

Scaling Up the Impacts of the Sustainability Movements
ISEAL Alliance
14-15 February
Bern, Switzerland

STR-RS 6th Annual Responsible Sourcing Summit
STR-RS
10-11 March
Los Angeles, CA


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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]
topSAI President Recognized as one of 2010's Top 100 Thought Leaders in Trustworthy Business Behavior
Trust Across America's™ Top 100 Recipients chosen after two years of extensive selection process and includes individuals from diverse backgrounds

SAI President Alice Tepper Marlin
Alice-conf
SAI President Alice Tepper Marlin was distinguished as one of 2010's 100 Top Thought Leaders in Trustworthy Business Behavior by Trust Across America (TAA), a program of Next Decade, Inc. dedicated to unraveling the complexities of trustworthy business behavior across the USA. The Top 100 Thought Leaders were chosen after two years of research and an extensive vetting process, with the counsel of 150 professionals nationwide. 


The recipients of this honor include individuals from both the public and private sector and varied backgrounds -- authors, consultants, researchers, academics and ten CEOs of "The Most Trustworthy Public Companies in America." Honorees include Jeffrey Schwartz [CEO of Timberland]; Toby Webb [Founder of Ethical Corporation]; Indra Nooyi [CEO of PepsiCo]; Mindy Lubber [President of CERES]; and Hazel Henderson [Founder of Ethical Markets Media]. Please join us in congratulating Ms. Tepper Marlin, and in congratulating Trust Across America for its acumen. >>Read more

For more information, contact SAI Communications & Development Coordinator, Joleen Ong- [email protected]
Notes from the Field: U.S. Ambassadors to Nicaragua & Honduras Visit Cultivar Suppliers to Learn About Improvements
U.S. Ambassadors to Nicaragua and Honduras met with participating supplier farms in respective countries about the impact of their participation in Project Cultivar

U.S. Ambassador to Honduras, Hugo Llorens, [above left] , Cultivar's Regional Director Dr. Rafael Barrera and Project Manager Matthew Fisher-Daly [center] and others listen closely to banana farm owner Arnold Bueso [third from right] talk about the measures that Finca Guaruma has taken to improve working conditions and labor relations. 
On January 6 and January 12, Project Cultivar Regional Director, Dr. Rafael Barrera, and Cultivar local partners, accompanied the ambassadors on a visit to participating supplier farms located in their respective country of representation. 

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  >>Read more

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 [email protected].
Anvil Knitwear is First US-based Company to Join Cotton Made in Africa Initiative


SAI is pleased to announce that Anvil Knitwear, a Signatory Corporate Program member since 2007, is the first US-based apparel manufacturer to join the Cotton made in Africa (CmiA) initiative. This additional demand from Anvil Knitwear for CmiA's sustainably produced cotton will help grow the program.

The Europe-based CmiA initiative is overseen by the Aid by Trade Foundation, an organization that aims to reduce poverty and promote economic development through market-based incentives. Since March 2010, SAI has been the official US-based representative, introducing CmiA to American companies and helping them to start using the initiative's socially responsible cotton.

Anvil Knitwear CEO Anthony Corsano commented on the new partnership's alignment with Anvil's social and environmental priorities and its evolving sustainable fiber strategy: "Cotton made in Africa is another source of sustainable fiber for Anvil. It is rain fed, utilizes principles of soil conservation, reduces pesticides, and incorporates important ILO labor principles. We also hope our purchases help African smallholder farmers improve their own living standards." >>Read more

Click here to learn more about SAI's work with Cotton Made in Africa

For more information, contact SAI Assistant Manager of Corporate Programs & Training, Kate Critchell, [email protected].
Announcing New 2011 Appointments & Departures at SAI
After their excellent and inspiring work over more than a decade, SAI bids farewell to two highly respected staff members and transitions into 2011 with promotions and additions to SAI's team 

Please join us in announcing these new promotions and new additions, as well as wishing the best of luck to our departing colleagues, Judy Gearhart and Elena Arengo:
Matthew Fisher-Daly

Matthew Fisher-Daly will be taking on greater responsibilities in managing research and alliances. This promotion is highly merited by his excellent work on Project Cultivar and other Central American projects -- in the field and at headquarters-- along with his keen intellect, dedication and strong management skills. Mr. Fischer-Daly is deeply committed to workers' rights in the region and beyond, and very much looks forward to working in this new position.
Yolanda Brenes

Yolanda Brenes will take on a greater leadership role in representing SAI in Central America.  Ms. Brenes, who has worked closely with SAI since 2006, has been leading two categories of SAI capacity building programs in Central America: worker-manager training and labor inspector training.

Edwin Koster and Steven Oates were appointed as official SAI representatives in Europe. >>Read more

SAI is currently accepting application for open positions, for more information please visit www.sa-intl.org/careers

For more information, please contact Joleen Ong at [email protected].

SAAS & SAI Launch First Training Session in Chicago about Magen Tzedek Standards Certification
Training session was the first in 2011 for SAAS, SAI & the Hekhsher Tzedek Commission's joint project to develop an auditing system for the Magen Tzedek certification


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. >>Read more

For more information, contact SAAS Project Manager, Salah Husseini- [email protected]

Siemens Integrity Initiative: Transparency International USA Enlists SAI as a Partner in New 3-Year Anti-Corruption Program
"Verification of Corporate Anti-Corruption Programs" will look at the key role that compliance verification methods can play in companies' adherence to anti-corruption programs

SAI is pleased to announce its participation in the first $40 million funding round of the Siemens Integrity Initiative as a Project Partner to Transparency International USA (TI-USA). The Siemens Integrity Initiative is supported by the World Bank and resulted from a settlement between the World Bank and Siemens.

The main goal of this project is to improve credibility of corporate compliance programs. The project will assess the strengths and weaknesses of the most common used methods of compliance verification, and will develop recommendations for companies when considering anti-corruption compliance verification. Achieving these overarching goals will enable companies to increase public confidence and enhance credibility with investors, ratings agencies, financial institutions, export credit agencies and government procurement agencies, which increasingly expect corporations to demonstrate effective compliance programs. >>Read more

For more information, contact SAI Communications & Development Coordinator, Joleen Ong- [email protected]
 Using Labor & Environmental Standards in Trade Finance
A joint pilot program with the MFA Forum and the International Finance Corporation's (IFC) Global Trade Supplier Finance program

As a member of the MFA Forum, SAI is working with the International Finance Corporate (IFC) on an innovative 6-month pilot project that seeks to develop a model for trade finance incentives for continuous improvement in implementing decent work standards at companies' supplier factories.

The need for this project emerges in the aftermath of the instability for exporters exacerbated by the financial crisis. A lack of consistent purchase orders, unpredictability of future market trends, and redefined competition based on low prices are examples of this instability. Suppliers need trade finance to sustain their business and invest in continuous improvement to provide decent work opportunities.

This project will work on a practical way to identify suppliers that are demonstrably improving their implementation of labor standards.  >>Read more

For more information, please contact SAI Project Manager Matt Fischer-Daly- [email protected].


SA8000 Certification Statistics as of September 30, 2010
1.3 Million and Counting!




# Employees:
1,365,236


#Countries Represented: 62

#Industries Represented:
66


SA8000 Certified Facilities List











For more information, contact Lisa, SAAS Program Manager at [email protected]
 

Israel-based Institute of Quality & Control Ltd. (IQC), becomes SAAS' 20th Accredited Certification Body

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.
Highlights & Announcements

SAI Field Services Director Doug DeRuisseau [fourth from left] discusses trends in CSR certification at SAI's weekly staff meeting in New York

December 15, 2010- "Tough New Ethics Seal Set to be Tested in Kosher Marketplace" SAAS & the Hekhsher Tzedek Commission were the focus of this article published by the Jewish Daily Forward, exploring the process towards creating the Magen Tzedek "seal of justice." Read article @http://bit.ly/gEQbxu 

Participants from SAI's SA8000 Basic Auditor Training that took place in Sao Paulo, Brazil on January 17-21
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.