Social accountability Standard - SA8OOO
The Nutreco España, and therefore all the companies integrating this business group, is committed to social accountability, based on the Social Accountability (SA8000) Standard. In this connection, we wish to provide general information regarding this Standard and its implications.
In 1997, the Social Accountability International (SAI) created the SA8000 Standard. SAI is a non-profit organization dedicated to the development, implementation and control of verifiable and voluntary social accountability rules.
The SA8000 Standard is a universal, integral, global and auditable certification standard for the compliance of social accountability. Implementation of this standard enables small or big sized companies to demonstrate clients and other interested parties that they are committed to assuring social welfare.
The SA8000 system has been designed following the existing standardized rules ISO9001 and ISO14001 applicable to Quality and Environmental Management Systems, respectively. The SA8000 was developed and tested on field by the non-profit entity Council on Economic Priorities (CEP), with the support of an international Advisory Board, formed by, inter alia, representatives of important corporations, human rights organizations, certifying bodies, academia, trade unions and universities.
The SA8000 is based on several existing international human rights rules, amongst others, the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the UN Convention to Eliminate All Forms of Discrimination Against Women and the International Labour Organisation (ILO) regarding workers’ essential rights.
The Certification to SA8000 validates the company’s statements regarding its commitments within the ethical and social accountability scope, publicly reporting its reliability via an accredited and recognizable attesting certificate, thus enhancing the company’s reputation and the confidence level generated by the issue of this Certification.
This Standard specifies clear, measurable and verifiable rules to attest the companies’ performance in nine essential areas:
- Health and Safety: The Company shall provide a safe and healthy working environment and shall take adequate steps to prevent accidents and injury, occurring in the course of work or associated with the same, by minimizing, so far as it is reasonably practicable, the causes of hazards inherent in the working environment.
- Freedom of Association and Right to Collective Bargaining: The Company shall respect the right of all personnel to form and join trade unions of their choice and to bargain collectively.
- Discrimination: The Company shall not engage in or support discrimination in hiring, remuneration, access to training, promotion, termination or retirement of its employees, based on race, caste, national origin, religion, disability, gender, sexual orientation, union membership, political affiliation or age.
- Disciplinary Practices: The Company shall not engage in or support the use of mental or physical coercion, and verbal abuse.
- Working Hours: The Company shall comply with the normal workweek defined by Law.
- f. Remuneration: The Company shall ensure that wages paid meet at least legal minimum standards.
- Chile Labour: The Company shall not engage in or support the use of child labour.
- Forced Labour: The Company shall not support the use of forced labour.
- Management Systems (including control of suppliers): Definition of procedures for the implementation and effective revision by the company of the SA8000 Standard commitment, including the appointment of managers to carry out such revisions, related records, etc.
Furthermore, the Company shall establish and maintain appropriate procedures to evaluate and select suppliers based on their ability to meet the requirements of this Standard.
If you have any questions regarding Social Accountability based on SA8000 Standard applicable to Nutreco España, please feel free to contact us on sa8000es@nutreco.com