Training Courses
Social Fingerprint® Online Courses
- Getting Started in Your Company
-Building Your Internal Social Performance Team
SA8000® Online Auditor Training Courses
SA8000® Revision Course
July 16-20, Surabaya, Indonesia
July 23-27, Shanghai, China
August 6-10, Colombo, Sri Lanka
August 27-31, Bern, Switzerland
Sept 3-7, Istanbul, Turkey
SA8000® Advanced Auditor Training
|
|
Social Accountability International (SAI) is a non-profit, multi-stakeholder organization established to advance the human rights of workers by promoting decent work conditions, labor rights, and corporate social responsibility through voluntary standards and capacity building.
SAI is headquartered in the United States with field representation in Brazil, China, Costa Rica, India, the Netherlands, Nicaragua, Philippines, Switzerland, and UAE.
SAI- Human Rights at Work
For newsletter inquiries contact:
SAI Communications Manager
Joleen Ong, jong@sa-intl.org |
|
|
 The $20 Billion Business Case for OSHA
A groundbreaking new report proves that workplace inspections improves both worker safety and business' sustainability
 | |
Photo credit: ESH Partnering
|
On May 18, 2012, Science Magazine published a groundbreaking report, "Randomized Government Safety Inspections Reduce Worker Injuries with No Detectable Job Loss" which concluded, contrary to the beliefs of those critical of OSHA (US Dept. of Labor, Occupational Safety & Health Agency), that compliance with government labor inspections has been proven mutually beneficial for workers and employers In the USA.
The study found that random inspections reduced annual injuries by 9.4% and lowered employers' medical costs by 26%, for an average of $350,000 in savings in the four years following the inspection. When applied nationally, this equals an annual savings of roughly $20 billion a year, even before calculating the reductions in pain and suffering.
The research was conducted by Dr. Michael Toffel, Associate Professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business School; Dr. David Levine, Professor at the University of California Berkeley's Haas School of Business; and Matthew Johnson, Ph.D candidate at Boston University. SAI asked Dr. Toffel and Dr. Levine for further comment >>Read more
Back to top
|
|
Rio+20: Supply Chain Management for Sustainable Development
SAI participates in UN Global Compact Sustainability Forum in Rio
Businesses play a key role in fostering sustainable development, throughout their global supply chains. On June 16, SAI Senior Advisor Alan Spaulding spoke on the panel: "The Sustainable Supply Chain - Scaling Up Impacts of Sustainability Practice," to discuss this role, the impact of supply chain management decisions on sustainability, and how they relate to the Rio+20 agenda. This panel discussion was part of the larger United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) Rio+20 Corporate Sustainability Forum: Innovation and Collaboration for the Future We Want that took place June 15-18, 2012 in Rio de Janeiro.
The forum offered an opportunity for over 2,000 participants - representing business, civil society, investors, governments, local authorities and UN entities - to strategize on how to scale up business' role in sustainable development. Social Development was one of the Forum's six core themes, the other five were: 1) Energy & Climate; 2) Water & Ecosystems; 3) Agriculture & Food; 4) Urbanization & Cities; 5) Economics & Finance of Sustainable Development.
High-level principles and standards -- such as the UNGC's Ten Principles, and the SA8000® Standard for Decent Work - offer businesses a path toward leadership in social responsibility and social compliance. However, putting principles in practice is a common challenge that companies face. >>Read more
This article was written by SAI Communications Intern Shirley Wu (SWu@sa-intl.org). For inquiries, contact SAI Communication Manager Joleen Ong (JOng@sa-intl.org).
Back to top
|
|
CSR's Next Step: The Buyer-Supplier Mutual Code of Conduct
A mutual buyer-supplier code of conduct will foster the two-way cooperation needed to improve human rights at work
 | | SAI's Handbook on how to implement the UN Guiding Principles will be published July 2012- pre-subscribe now |
In the field of corporate social responsibility, there has been a lot of talk about how the buyers' purchasing practices influence suppliers' ability to comply with their code of conduct. Buyer actions, such as large rush orders or last-minute design changes, contribute to supplier inability to meet labor standards. The traditional top-down supplier code of conduct typically used by multi-national companies fails to include their social responsibility as buyers.
A major innovation in the Handbook is the Buyer-Supplier Mutual Code of Conduct as a tool for meeting the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. "Think about expanding your Supplier Code into a Buyer-Supplier Mutual Code that states the actions you will take to avoid causing or contributing to the negative impacts of the supplier," said Craig Moss >>Read more
Pre-subscribe Now: SAI Handbook on UN Guiding Principles. This article was written by SAI Communications Intern Shirley Wu (SWu@sa-intl.org). For inquiries, contact SAI Communications Manager Joleen Ong (JOng@sa-intl.org).
|
|
Peru: Forum on CSR & Human Rights at Work
Register Now: June 27-28, 2012 - Lima, Peru
On June 27, 2012, SAI will jointly host an open forum in collaboration with the Peruvian Ministry of Labor, Peru EQUIDAD: Center for Public Policy and Human Rights, and Peru 2021, to promote corporate social responsibility and human rights in the workplace. >>Read more
Event Name: Public Forum - Corporate Social Responsibility and Human Rights at Work: Mechanisms for Social Inclusion
Foro Público: "La Responsabilidad Social Empresarial y los Derechos Humanos en el Trabajo: Mecanismos para la Inclusión Social"
Date/Time: June 27, 2012; 6:00PM-9:00PM
Address: Auditorio del Ministerio de Trabajo y Promoción del Empleo del Perú; Av. Salaverry 655, Jesús María, Ingreso Libre
Event Brochure [english]: http://bit.ly/MkgsSW
Programa [en español]: http://bit.ly/Ki4Yhd
Event Name: Corporate Social Responsibility and Human Rights in Management Systems: the Development of Social Fingerprint®
La responsibilidad social empresarial y derechos humanos en los sistemas de gestion socio laboral: el desarollo de la huella social
Date/Time: June 27 (8:30AM-5:00PM) - June 28 (9:00AM-1:00PM
Address: Hotel José Antonio
Av. 28 de Julio 398 Miraflores. Lima 18
Event Brochure [english]: http://bit.ly/MNcMYK
Programa [en español]: http://bit.ly/KR1gN8
For more information, and to register, please call Melissa Rondinel, Peru EQUIDAD at +51-5-472-2536 or visit www.peru2021.org | Para más información o para registrar para el curso, por favor llamar a Melissa Rondinel de Perú EQUIDAD al +51-5-472-2536 o haga clic en el siguiente enlace www.peru2021.org.
Back to top
|
|
Tchibo's 'WE Project' Expands to India
Promoting dialogue between workers and managers for social quality
 | |
On February 2012, Tchibo's 'WE Project' launched its first training of trainers in New Delhi, India. SAI India Project Director, Rishi Sher Singh (top, third from left) and Daniel Kolterman (top, second from right) Tchibo Manager of Social Quality & WE, and Julia Thimm (top right) Tchibo Supplier Development Manager with training participants.
|
After 5 years of project activity in Bangladesh, China and Thailand, the WE Project starts a new chapter in India to promote dialogue between workers and managers for social equality.
Dialogue is the foundation for addressing some of the most challenging issues in workplaces. Significant improvements to working conditions are achieved and sustained when workers and managers have the knowledge, tools and communication platform to jointly resolve labor issues and identify improvements to the company's overall operations.
Since 2007, Tchibo GmbH, a leading coffee and consumers goods retailer based in Germany and an SAI Corporate Program member, has implemented its successful "WE Project" in Bangladesh, China and Thailand. Tchibo launched the new WE Project chapter in India on 7-10 February with the training of trainers (ToT) in New Delhi. >>Read more
For more information about Tchibo's WE Project, visit we-socialquality.com. For inquiries, contact SAI India Project Director, Rishi Sher Singh (rishi@sa-intl.org).
Back to top
|
|
Update: SAI's RAGS Project in India
SAI convenes a 3-day training workshop to help develop training curriculum on how to improve working conditions in the garment industry
 | |
Viraf Mehta, RAGS Project Coordinator, delivers a presentation to workshop participants on the National Voluntary Guidelines. [Photo credit: Rishi Sher Singh]
|
On May 28, 29 and 31, SAI organized a 3-day workshop in New Delhi to provide information on the supplier training curriculum that is being developed, and to elicit feedback from stakeholders. This workshop was part of SAI's work in UKAID's DFID RAGs Project in India. In attendance were over 35 participants - from apparel brands, NGOs, industry experts and freelance trainers.
During day 1, SAI India Project Director, Rishi Sher Singh provided information on the role of SAI in RAGS and the operational details of the project. With support of the India-based trade union, the Self Employed Women's Association (SEWA) and GAP Inc., SAI facilitated a discussion on gender discrimination and homeworker engagement in supply chain. >>Read more
For more information and to register, contact SAI India Project Director, Rishi Sher Singh (rishi@sa-intl.org).
Back to top
|
|
ITC Standards Map: Linking 'Ethical' Suppliers to Global Buyers
The new web platform collaborates with over 75 standards and code initiatives to centralize information for buyers and suppliers
Mathieu Lamolle is the Standards Database Coordinator for ITC Standards Map, below he gives more details about the project and its opportunities for all stakeholders:
The International Trade Centre (ITC), a joint organization of the United Nations and World Trade Organization based in Geneva, Switzerland, has one goal: to help businesses become more competitive in global markets, speeding economic development and contributing to sustainable development.
As part of this goal, ITC has developed a new web platform called Standards Map that provides comprehensive and comparable information on sustainability standards and audit protocols, with the aim to strengthen the capacity of producers, exporters and buyers to participate in more sustainable production and trade.
A free trial access to the Standards Map online comparison tool is offered to all new users who register from the Standards Map homepage >>Read more
For inquiries, contact Mathieu Lamolle, Standards Database Coordinator, ITC Standards Map (lamolle@intracen.org).
Back to top
|
|
Meet SAI & SAAS' 2012 Summer Interns
 | |
SAI Summer 2012 Interns [clockwise from top left]: Anya Corke; Yu Mei Lay He; Matthew Langan; Celia Sweet Guillard; Shirley Wu; and Julia Solomon.
|
SAI welcomes its newest interns to SAI's headquarters in New York. Special thanks to Beth Smith for her ongoing support towards the Beth K. Smith internship fund at Wellesley College. We are proud to introduce them, in their own words:
Anya Corke: I'm a rising senior at Wellesley College, double majoring in Russian and Philosophy. I'm interested in international development and humanitarian issues, with a focus on education and Russia/Eastern Europe >>Read more
Celia Sweet Guillard: I am a rising junior from the University of Connecticut with a double major in Economics and International Relations with a focus on Human Rights and Social Justice, and a minor in Human Rights. I am particularly interested in corporate social responsibility and labor rights as they relate to the garment and textile industries >>Read more
Yu Mei Lay He: I am a rising junior at Wellesley College majoring in Economics. I am from Santiago, Chile and am particularly interested in China's influence in Latin America, especially as more Chinese companies invest in the region >>Read more
Matt Langan: I am a junior at Hamilton College where I major in government and am a member of the Levitt Leadership Institute. I am particularly interested in SAI's leading work in corporate social responsibility as well as corporate programs and training >>Read more
Julia Solomon: I am a rising senior at Wellesley College and am majoring in Economics. Two of my main interests are development issues and public policy. This summer I will be an intern at SAAS, where I will be analyzing and updating some of SAAS's data on SA8000 certification >>Read more
Shirley Wu: I am a rising senior at Wellesley College majoring in Economics and minoring in Psychology. Growing up in China, I have witnessed terrible labor conditions as well as companies' struggles to remain competitive in the global market >>Read more
Back to top
|
Enroll in Global SA8000 Auditor Training Courses
International Locations & Online Courses Available
 | |
Participants at the Advanced SA8000 Auditor Training in Sao Paulo, Brazil - April 23-25, 2012. Photo credit: Adriano Diniz Costa
|
Upcoming:
Location: Surabaya, Indonesia
Date: July 16-20
Location: New York, U.S.A.
Date: July 18-20
SAI training courses are designed to encourage proficiency in social compliance issues and emphasize the implementation of management systems. Learn about a management-system approach to social compliance auditing and supply chain management. These courses are required for all SA8000® and BSCI auditors, and are just as valuable to internal auditors, buyers, managers and workers for auditing to any labor code or standard. The courses are open to all.
|
|
|
|
Highlights & Announcements
How to Design Leadership Development for Immediate Gains This article was co-written by Nadim Matta, President of the Rapid Results Institute (RRI). RRI is a partner of SAI, the 'Rapid Results Approach' is embedded in SAI's Social Fingerprint curriculum. Read it @bit.ly/LDSjHZ
GRI Anti-Corruption Working Group SAI Executive Director Eileen Kaufman is currently participating in this new working group of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI). Learn more @bit.ly/KB3nrF
EMD Millipore Stakeholder Advisory Council Meeting On June 18, 2012 SAI Director of Corporate Programs & Training Craig Moss participated to look at their current CSR efforts, and discuss how to further improve their social responsibility in their global supply chain. EMD Millipore is a division of Merck.
Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC) Meeting On June 12-15, 2012 SAI Senior Manager of Corporate Programs & Training Jane Hwang participated in this meeting in Hamburg, Germany. The SAC is an industry-wide group of leading apparel and footwear brands, retailers, manufacturers, NGOs, academic experts and the U.S. EPA. Learn more @ apparelcoalition.org. U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) & Corporate Responsibility Officers Association (CROA) Meeting On June 12, SAI Senior Advisor Alan Spaulding participated in this meeting in Washington, D.C. which focused on continuing dialogue from a previous White House Sustainable Supply Chain Roundtable meeting. The goal is to establish a Community of Practice to enhance the federal government's ability to meet sustainability standards in its procurement. |
|
|
|
|
