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November 2012
1. Evolving 'CSR': Co-Creating Human Value
2. SAAS Releases Statement on Activities in Pakistan
3. AKUT Returns to Pakistan
4. 'Pillars in Practice' Program Launch in Copenhagen
5. 'RAGS' Gender Discrimination Trainings Continue in India
6. Multi-Stakeholder Roundtable: Electronics Sector in India
7. November 27-28, Bangalore: Transforming the UN Guiding Principles into Business Practice
8. SA8000 Auditor Training in Bangalore
9. Snapshot: Election Day in Gurgaon for Worker Representatives
10. Hurricane Sandy Relief Efforts in NYC
11. Highlights & Announcements
Top 3 News Stories 

 

'Comply &Win' Success in Building Government Labor Inspection Capacity 

 

Training Courses

 Social Fingerprint Online Courses 

- Getting Started in Your Company 

-Building Your Internal Social Performance Team

 

Professional Development Series

Implementing the UN Guiding Principles 

-Bangalore, India

November 27-28, 2012

- Utrecht, the Netherlands

January 28-29, 2013

- Hamburg, Germany

January 31-February 1, 2013

 

SAI Cividep Electronic Sector Multi-Stakeholder Roundtable
Chennai, India
November 30, 2012

 

RAGS Project: Management Systems to Address Gender Discrimination 

Bangalore, Tirupur, New Delhi
October-December 2012 

SA8000 Advanced Auditor Training   

-Bangalore, India

November 27-28, 2012 

- Utrecht, the Netherlands

January 28-29, 2013

- Hamburg, Germany

January 31-February 1, 2013  

 

Chennai, India
November 30, 2012

   

 RAGS Project: Management Systems to Address Gender Discrimination  

Bangalore, Tirupur, New Delhi
October-December 2012 

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,  
[email protected]
top1Evolving 'CSR': Co-Creating Human Value
Interview with Anant Nadkarni, Vice President of the Tata Council for Community Initiatives (TCCI)
Anant G. Nadkarni, VP of TCCI and SAI Advisory Board member

In SAI's October newsletter, we reported on the leadership training program in Mumbai for the Tata group of companies, conducted October 16-18 by SAI and the Tata Council for Community Initiatives (TCCI). During the program, SAI Advisory Board member and TCCI Vice President Anant G. Nadkarni was interviewed by SAI Senior Manager of Corporate Programs & Training Jane Hwang.

Jane Hwang: The SAI-Tata Social Accountability Leadership Program placed a lot of emphasis on leadership. Can you tell us a little more about your approach?

Anant Nadkarni
: I like the way that SAI is trying to move companies beyond the language of compliance, to one of mutual responsibility and cooperation at all levels of the supply chain. In India, the CSR/Sustainability field is evolving. It's no longer just about compliance - companies being monitored and employees having to claim rights. We want to evolve to the idea of human value. But value is an opinion, and in this case between managers and workers, value needs to be co-created. This is why I wanted the program to be more than just a technical training. We need more leadership. My senior colleague Kishor Chaukar (SAI Advisory Board member) often says "Leadership is about convincing oneself and others to work with the people, not for or at them" We wanted to challenge our program participants to think about...>>Read more

This interview was conducted by SAI Senior Manager of Corporate Programs & Training - Jane Hwang. For inquires, please contact Jane at [email protected].

SAAS Releases Statement on Activities in Pakistan 

In response to the tragic fire at Ali Enterprises in Karachi, SAAS implements country-wide actions to investigate and enhance the SA8000 system 

 

On November 8, 2012, Social Accountability Accreditation Services (SAAS) released a statement that details SAAS' actions taken in response to the tragic fire in which nearly 300 workers died. Among these are the initiation of a broad country-wide factory safety investigation in Pakistan. These steps were determined after intense deliberation with the SAAS Board of Directors and taking into account advice from the 3-day SAI Advisory Board meeting in October 2012.    

 

In 2011 and 2012, SAAS has been working with SAI and the SAAS Advisory Committee to review and revise its accreditation and certification methodology, improving and clarifying the requirements for the SA8000 system.

 

The following is an excerpt from SAAS' statement on activities and decisions that have been implemented:  

  • All certification bodies (CBs) undertaking SA8000 activity in Pakistan are being required by SAAS to conduct unannounced fire safety inspections at all existing SA8000 clients.  
  • SAAS itself will conduct a set of independent, unannounced fire safety inspections at a sampling of SA8000 certified clients in four locations in Pakistan, bringing in qualified inspectors from the Turkish non-profit organization, AKUT Search and Rescue Association. AKUT is a highly respected non-profit organization that delivers emergency and disaster relief. This process will include substantial stakeholder consultation.          
  • SAAS has notified all CBs active in Pakistan that no new SA8000 certificates are to be issued until SAAS can conclude its analysis and make any changes to its accreditation and certification procedures that are identified...>>Read more  
For more information, please visit www.saasaccreditation.org/news.htm. For inquiries, please contact SAAS Program Manager Lisa Bernstein -[email protected]

AKUT Returns to Pakistan  

The Turkish NGO AKUT Search & Rescue Association conducts emergency & fire safety assessments in Pakistan  for SAAS 

 

 On November 11, 2012, the Turkish NGO AKUT Search and Rescue released a statement of its current activities with SAAS in several cities in Pakistan. Below is the statement taken from AKUT's website, translated into English from Turkish by AKUT volunteer and SAI Lead Trainer, Dundar Sahin.     

 

"In 2006, AKUT participated in an earthquake rescue operation in Pakistan to support the evacuation of people from villages that were heavily affected by landslides and debris. AKUT continue to support the people of Pakistan by providing medical support and materials after the earthquake.

Now AKUT is participating with Social Accountability Accreditation Services (SAAS) - the independent accreditation organization that oversees SA8000 certification - to provide Emergency and Fire Safety Assessment Services to SA8000 Certified factories on behalf of SAAS in several cities in Pakistan. The assessment will include, the fire and emergency mitigations, physical risks in the workplace and emergency response capacity of certified facilities...>>Read more  

 

View the original statement in Turkish on AKUT's website. For more information, contact SAAS Program Manager Lisa Bernstein - [email protected]  


 'Pillars in Practice' Program Launch in Copenhagen
Partners convened to discuss program goals to build capacity of local organizations on the UN Guiding Principles for Business & Human Rights
From left: 1) The Pillars in Practice (PiP) project logo (left) was unveiled at the launch in Copenhagen; 2) PiP partners stand together to promote UN GPs. Left to right: Dirk Hoffmann, DiHR; Mutuso Dhliwayo, ZELA; Paloma Munoz Quick, DiHR; Shahamin Zaman, CSR Centre Bangladesh; and Eliza Wright, SAI. See more photos @facebook.com/pillarsinpractice.  (Photo credit: Paloma Munoz Quick, Eliza Wright)
On November 7-8 in Copenhagen, Denmark, the Pillars in Practice (PiP) Program kicked-off its 18-month initiative with a planning meeting at the headquarters of the Danish Institute for Human Rights. The meeting brought all partners together to build consensus on effective strategies for meeting program objectives and to cultivate relationships to develop a cohesive international team.

A major theme referenced during the two-day event was the "Power of Three."  PiP will implement activities in three countries - Nicaragua, Bangladesh & Zimbabwe, in three industrial sectors - agriculture, garment manufacturing, and mining. This will be implemented through three local civil society organizations (CSOs) in their respective countries - PASE, CSR Centre, and ZELA; on the three pillars of the UN GPs - Respect, Protect, and Remedy. Virtual webinars, classroom trainings, survey questionnaires and multi-stakeholder dialogue roundtables will serve as the primary means for fulfilling the program's objectives...>>Read more 

The 'Pillars in Practice' Program is funded by the U.S. Department of State. For more information, contact SAI Development Manager Eliza Wright -[email protected]. To follow the project in real time 'like' us on Facebook - facebook.com/pillarsinpractice.

 'RAGS' Gender Discrimination Trainings Continue in India
Classroom trainings focus on how to address gender discrimination in the India ready-made garment industry
Photos (from left): 1) Participants in Bangalore deliberate during a group activity; 2) Snapshot of a banner that was made by women being mentored by the organization Kaurageous; 3) Participants in Tirupur post their thoughts on gender discrimination. [Photo credit: Rishi Sher Singh]
In India, SAI's RAGS Project continues to roll out its training on "Management Systems to Address Gender Discrimination." On October 29 and 31 in Bangalore, and November 2, 3, 5 in Tirupur, SAI's India Project Director Rishi Sher Singh carried out additional trainings on how to address gender discrimination in the Indian ready-made garment industry.

During the trainings, Mr. Singh noted that the topic has elicited a range of emotions from participants. "All participants strongly agreed on the need to ensure that all workers are treated with dignity and respect, he said. "Participants felt especially emotional when the concept of developing a factory culture where 'work is worship,' was discussed."

Mr. Singh has received positive and encouraging feedback about the trainings. An individual representing a major global retailer who nominated suppliers for the training stated, "I've heard good feedback from almost all participants, almost everyone said the sessions were informative, interactive and lively...>>Read more

To view more photos from the training, visit sa-intl.org/indiarags. For more information and to register for trainings, please contact SAI India Project Director Rishi Sher Singh -[email protected].

Multi-Stakeholder Roundtable: Electronics Sector in India 

SAI & Cividep invite stakeholders from the electronics sector to November 30 roundtable   

 

On November 30, 2012, SAI and the Bangalore-based NGO Cividep will convene a roundtable of local and global stakeholders to engage in social dialogue on challenges in the electronics industry and effective implementation of workplace standards. Expected stakeholders include civil society organizations, companies, manufacturers, trade unions, and international organizations. 


According to the Indian Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, electronics hardware production is projected to grow from US $20 billion in 2009 to US $400 billion by 2020, including exports to the US of $80 billion. Some of the major electronics products manufactured in India are computers, mobile phones, medical equipment, consumer electronics and components. The sector currently provides employment to more than 4 million people, but workplace labor practices and environmental health & safety have become a growing concern.

Social dialogue is the foundation of stable employment and sustainable business, addressing two key pillars workplace standards and continual improvement of working conditions...>>Read more

To learn more about this event, visit @sa-intl.org/emacsFor inquiries and to register, please contact SAI India Project Director Rishi Sher Singh, [email protected]

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November 27-28, Bangalore: Transforming the UN Guiding Principles into Business Practice

SAI & ICCO to convene a two-day training to help businesses implement the UN Guiding Principles

 

In June 2011, the UNHRC adopted the UN Guiding Principles (UN GPs) on Business & Human Rights, developed by UN Special Representative John Ruggie. These groundbreaking principles seek to ensure that businesses respect human rights. The challenge now is in their implementation.

 

To assist with that goal, SAI and ICCO developed tools for business and have started a new training course centered on their recent Handbook & Toolkit. Register now for the training in Bangalore, India on Nov. 27-28, 2012. In 2013, this course will be delivered in: 

          • Utrecht, The Netherlands- January 28-29 
          • Hamburg, Germany - January 31-February 1
          • Brazil - Details TBD 

This exercise-driven two-day course will help a company utilize the Handbook & put the UN GPs into practice. It addresses questions concerning:

  • Scope of the UN GPs
  • Difficulties & challenges with implementing the UN GPs 
The course will introduce attendees to a six-step method on how to implement a supply chain management system that integrates human rights. The six steps are...>>Read more 

 

Register now @sa-intl.org/UNGuidingPrinciplesCourseFor inquiries, please contact SAI Training Manager Stephanie Wilson at [email protected]. 

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SA8000 Auditor Training in Bangalore
Group photo of participants from the SA8000 Basic Auditor training course in Bangalore, India on September 24-28, 2012. [Photo credit: Badri Gulur]

On September 24-28, SAI convened a Basic SA8000 Auditor Training course in Bangalore, India. There were 20 participants from five different countries: India, Bangladesh, Finland, Kenya and Malaysia. The participants represented trade unions, certification bodies, SA8000 certified companies, independent consulting firms, NGOs, retailers and manufacturing companies. The course was led by SAI Lead Trainer, Badri Gulur. To see more photos from the SA8000 auditor training courses, check out SAI's Facebook page @on.fb.me/Tbex4C

  

Upcoming SA8000 training courses:    

Location: Dhaka, Bangladesh    

Date:  December 2-6, 2012

 SAI Training Schedule 2013

SAI training courses are designed to encourage proficiency in social compliance and emphasize the implementation of management systems in combination with performance elements. 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. Complimentary places are available for NGO and trade union participants. 

 

For more information, contact SAI Training Coordinator, Stephanie Wilson at [email protected].  




Snapshot: Election Day in Gurgaon for Worker Representatives
On October 23, 2012, workers at a garment factory in Gurgaon, India lined up to cast their vote for worker representatives for the factory's Internal Social Performance Team. View more photos on SAI's Facebook page @on.fb.me/SIQFqM. [Photo credit: Sanjiv Singh]
On October 23, 2012 workers at a garment factory in Gurgaon, India exercised their right to vote for worker representatives on an 'Internal Social Performance Team.' As part of SAI's Social Fingerprint Program, almost 900 workers voted to elect two workers representatives to be included on the team to help be part of the continual improvement process to ensure decent working conditions in the factory. These teams include representatives from various departments -- such as human relations and manufacturing -- to get diverse perspective. For workers, their representative is always elected. [Note- the worker representatives on the Internal Social Performance Team would not displace union elections.]

 

For more photos, check out SAI's Facebook page @on.fb.me/SIQFqM.  



Hurricane Sandy Relief Effort in NYC 

After the storm on Oct. 29-30, inspiring volunteer initiatives spring up to help relief effort  

Photos, from left: 1) In Staten Island, one of the many piles of debris that was left after Hurricane Sandy; (right) Inside the St. Francis de Sales gymnasium in Breezy Point, Queens, a makeshift shelter is put together for people to donate goods. View more photos at http://ow.ly/f2nVv. [Photo credit: Stephanie Wilson]
After Hurricane Sandy swept through New York and the surrounding region, the recovery effort has been in full swing. It has been an inspiration to see the wide array of initiatives that popped up to help supplement government relief efforts. Community centers, churches, shelters and peoples' homes have served as central bases for volunteers to come together to take action. Additionally, teams of volunteers have been on the ground to help out with the cleanup in some of the most devastated areas where people have lost their entire homes or have been displaced because of the dangerous flooding.  

SAI and SAAS staff members, who reside in the New York area - Manhattan, Brooklyn, Westchester, New Jersey, Connecticut - all were personally affected by this Hurricane. Fortunately, all SAI staff made it through the storm safely, and some were able to pitch in and help with the recovery efforts. Matt Applebaum, who volunteered at a community center in Red Hook Houses, Brooklyn; Stephanie Wilson, who volunteered with Liberty Church in Breezy Point, Queens and Staten Island; Alice Tepper Marlin, who volunteered at housing projects in Chelsea, Manhattan; and Melanie Bower, who volunteered with the Red Cross of Greater NY.  Below, we highlight their stories:

Matt Applebaum, SAI IT Consultant
Volunteer at a community center in Red Hook Houses, Brooklyn
"On Saturday November 3, my girlfriend Therese, her daughter Ruby and I joined throngs of helpers at the Red Hook Community Center in Red Hook, Brooklyn.  Red Hook is sort of an outlier community. While not far from downtown Brooklyn, it is not well connected by mass transit, therefore a bit isolated. A few days later, Red Hook was underwater...>>Read more

Stephanie Wilson, SAI Training Coordinator
Volunteer with Liberty Church in Breezy Point, Queens and Staten Island, NY.
Last Friday, November 2 and over the weekend, Stephanie worked tirelessly to help with the cleanup on the ground in Breezy Point, Queens, and Staten Island. These two areas were some of the worst hit in New York, where homes were completely destroyed and many people displaced. Stephanie volunteered with her Church - Liberty Church in New York...>>Read more

Alice Tepper Marlin, SAI President
Volunteer at the Fulton Houses and Peter Cooper Village in Manhattan
"In my neighborhood of Chelsea in Manhattan, tenants in the Fulton Houses, a project with 944 small apartments - have no heat. Many of the tenants are elderly, some disabled or seriously ill. The weather dipped to the low 30s this evening; such cold can be life threatening. I walked with three 10th graders door to door assessing tenants' needs...>>Read more

Melanie Bower, SAAS Client Coordinator
Volunteer with the Red Cross of Greater New York
Melanie is a regular disaster services volunteer with the Red Cross of Greater New York. On Saturday, November 3 Melanie worked for over ten hours, in the emergency communications center, answering phones and directing people to Red Cross Shelters and offering any assistance possible. Shelters were set up in all five boroughs, Long Island...>>Read more

There is still much to be done, as it will be a long and expensive recovery ahead. If you are in the New York area, please consider volunteering with one of the organizations listed above. Additionally, we have even met people that have come from as far away as Georgia who have pitched in to help!

For more information, please contact SAI Communications Manager Joleen Ong - [email protected].


Highlights & Announcements
Group photo from the GRI Working Group meeting in Amsterdam. Photo taken by SAI Senior Manager Jane Hwang (top, third from left)
ESSTIN Annual Workshops to 'Invent a Responsible Future'
On October 3 and 4, Alice Tepper Marlin lectured at ESSTIN at the Universite de Lorraine in Nancy, France.  The lectures were part of the annual workshops to 'Invent a Responsible Future.'  Ms. Tepper Marlin gave a lecture and led an interactive workshop with a group of engineering students focused on global responsibility and sustainable development. These workshops were featured in the French newspaper, L'Est R�publicain, in the article, "Trois Nobel alternatifs � l'Esstin."

GRI Supply Chain Disclosure Working Group
On October 29-31, SAI's Jane Hwang participated in the 4th in-person meeting of the working group in Amsterdam. The group is part of the revision process for the GRI Guidelines (G4). See photo above. 

UNGC Advisory Group on Supply Chain Sustainability
On November 14-15 in Berlin, SAI Executive Director Eileen Kaufman will attend this semi-annual meeting, hosted by group member, Volkswagen. Discussions will include a report from its Human Rights task force, which is focusing on contract workers and the UN GPs. The group will also meet with the UNGC German Local Network, and hear from keynote speaker, Peter Eigen, founder of Transparency International and past chair of the EITI.