The SA8000 Standard is the central document of our work at CL. It is one of the world’s first auditable social certification standards for decent workplaces, across all industrial sectors. It is based on the UN Declaration of Human Rights, conventions of the ILO, UN and national law, and spans industry and corporate codes to create a common language to measure social performance.  It takes a management systems approach by setting out the structures and procedures that companies must adopt in order to ensure that compliance with the standard is continuously reviewed. Those seeking to comply with SA8000 have adopted policies and procedures that protect the basic human rights of workers. Below are the nine elements in the SA8000 Standard.

Mutual Recognition: CL seeks to increase transparency into the SA8000 Standard and reduce the duplication of audits by increasing the recognition and acceptance of SA8000 as a high quality certification by buyers, initiatives, standard setting bodies, and others.

Child Labour: No use or support of child labour; policies and written procedures for remediation of children found to be working in situation; provide adequate financial and other support to enable such children to attend school; and employment of young workers conditional. 

Forced orCompulsory Labour: No use or support for forced or compulsory labour, including prison labour; no required 'deposits' - financial or otherwise; no withholding salary, benefits, property or documents to force personnel to continue work; no employment fees or costs borne in whole or in part by workers; personnel right to leave premises after workday; personnel free to terminate their employment; and no use nor support for human trafficking.

Health and Safety: Provide a safe and healthy workplace; prevent potential occupational accidents; remove, reduce risks to new and expectant mothers; provide personal protection equipment and medical attention in event of work-related injury; appoint senior manager to ensure OSH; establish a Health and Safety Committee, comprised of a well-balanced group of management representatives and workers; instruction on OSH for all personnel; system to detect, avoid, respond to risks; record all accidents; hygiene- toilet, potable water, suitable spaces for meal breaks, sanitary food storage; decent dormitories- clean, safe, meet basic needs; and worker right to remove from imminent danger.

Freedom of Association and Right to Collective Bargaining: Respect the right to form and join trade unions and bargain collectively. All personnel are free to: organize trade unions of their choice; and bargain collectively with their employer. A company shall: respect right to organize unions & bargain collectively; not interfere in workers’ organizations or collective bargaining; inform personnel of these rights & freedom from retaliation; where law restricts rights, allow workers freely elect representatives; ensure no discrimination against personnel  engaged in worker organizations; and ensure representatives access to workers at the workplace.

Discrimination: No discrimination based on race, national or social origin, caste, birth, religion, disability, gender, sexual orientation, union membership, political opinions and age.  No discrimination in hiring, remuneration, access to training, promotion, termination, and retirement. No interference with exercise of personnel tenets or practices; prohibition of threatening, abusive, exploitative, coercive behaviour at workplace or company facilities; no pregnancy or virginity tests under any circumstances.

Disciplinary Practices: Treat all personnel with dignity and respect; zero tolerance of corporal punishment, mental or physical abuse of personnel; no harsh or inhumane treatment.  

Working Hours: Compliance with laws, collective bargaining agreements (where applicable) & industry standards; normal workweek, not including overtime, shall not exceed 48 hours; 1 day off following every 6 consecutive work days, with some exceptions; overtime is voluntary, not regular, not more than 12 hours per week; required overtime only if negotiated in CBA.

Remuneration: Respect right of personnel to living wage; all workers paid at least legal minimum wage; wages sufficient to meet basic needs & provide discretionary income; deductions not for disciplinary purposes, with some exceptions; wages and benefits clearly communicated to workers; paid in convenient manner – cash or check form; overtime paid at premium rate; prohibited use of labor-only contracting, short-term contracts, false apprenticeship schemes to avoid legal obligations to personnel.

Management System: Facilities seeking to gain and maintain certification must go beyond simple compliance to integrate the standard into their management systems and practices.