16.

Social Accountability International

Year 1997 when Social Accountability International (SAI), a US-based charitable

organization, was formed which is a global non-governmental organization advancing human

rights at work. Upholding their mission which is to advance human rights at workplaces, they

envision a world where workers, businesses, and communities thrive together backed up by their

belief that socially responsible workplaces benefit businesses while securing fundamental human

rights. The company serves as an adviser—mentor to businesses for them to understand the

responsibilities they owe to their workers and to the community and guide them in adopting and

implementing socially responsible business practices. Their main points in making this possible

are the following: Assurance, Standard Setting, Training and Capacity Building, and Multi-

Stakeholder Collaboration.

16.1. Assurance

Assurance services create confidence that social accountability credentials are granted

with a high degree of quality and integrity, this is made possible by SAI through their

accreditation division which is the Social Accountability Accreditation Services (SAAS). This

division supports social responsibility and accountability in ensuring a high quality and

consistent implementation of credible systems designed to protect people and their communities.

Assurance should be made to ensure that social audits are undertaken impartially, competently,

and effectively, providing quality assurance to stakeholders and reducing risk to the system.

16.2. Standard Setting

A decent workplace in any industry will always be a basis as to how the company is

going and how they take care not only of its workers but also of its stakeholders. It is important
to hold a standard setting in every workplace of any industry to make sure that no business falls

below the belt amidst changing norms, industries, context, and evolving times. At present, SAI

handles three certification and/or accreditation programs to ensure that a standard setting is being

upheld in various companies.

16.2.1. SA8000

Claimed to be the world’s leading social certification program, this provides a holistic

framework allowing organizations of all types, in any industry, and in any country to

demonstrate their dedication to the fair treatment of workers in a way that they based this on

internationally recognized standards of decent work, including the Universal Declaration of

Human Rights, ILO conventions, and national laws. It is with high respect that they validate and

view elements such as Child Labor, Forced or Compulsory Labor, Health and Safety, Freedom

of Association & Right to Collective Bargaining, Discrimination, Disciplinary Practices,

Working Hours, Remuneration, and Management System in certifying if one is abiding with it.

16.2.2. Triple Bottom Line Accounting

Differencing from traditional accounting where there is a single bottom line which is an

economic or financial one, triple bottom accounting broadens the scope and included social and

environmental impacts. This allowed them to assess performance of organizations in terms of

impacts on all vital resources. These three are environmental which assess the nature capital,

economic for economic capital, and social for interpersonal capital. The Certified TBL credential

recognizes and rewards organizations that systematically measure, manage, and report their

performance in rigorous, context-based terms; they believe that while outcomes matter, authentic
measurement must come first which is why the standard is made up of multi-stakeholder

collaboration and feedback, incorporating the interests of key stakeholders.

16.2.3. UN Women Gender Equity Seal

The world is still in the process of evolving as well as its constituents. Many social

standards before does not apply to the present thus calls have made to break through it. One of

the pioneer calls and up until know is an issue is the gender equity. Particularly women have

earned their value and they are more than a mere wife—mother. They can work outside the home

and earn money and respect for their own but unfortunately not many enjoy this privilege as

there are still a number of women out there who suffers being the underhand of the family.

Despite the commitment to gender equity on ten corporate agenda, however, progress has not

matched aspirations. The Gender Equity Seal provided a ‘gender lens’ — a specialized standard

that can be easily integrated into a company’s standard audit whether against an external or

company code. The Gender Equity Seal complements other initiatives, such as the Women’s

Empowerment Principles’ Reporting Guidance (modeled on the GRI framework) and the Calvert

Women’s Principles.

16.3. Training and Capacity Building

The lens does not just view the worker’s and the community’s but as well as the

businesses’ one. The order to maintain a healthy relationship between the three training and

capacity building are being conducted to ensure that everything related to human rights work are

being met. Over the years, SAI’s training programs such as the SA8000 Auditor Training,

Introduction to Living Wage Training, TenSquared, and Custom Training have benefited over
50,000 social auditors and representatives of brands, suppliers, trade unions, non-profits,

governments, and academia.

16.4. Multi-Stakeholder Collaboration

SAI was created as a multi-stakeholder initiative by representatives from the private

sector, governments, NGOs, labor unions, and academia. This means that it is run by people by

volunteer and donations. They run under the governance of a multi-stakeholder BOA which

manages and makes decisions with the assistance of others in ensuring that no class are at stake.

Human rights at work is an issue that requires input and collaboration from each of these sectors;

convening stakeholders from across the board is a key component of many SAI programs.

17. Global Reporting Initiative

An independent, international organization that helps businesses and other organizations

take responsibility for their impacts, by providing them with the global common language to

communicate those impacts. They envision a sustainable future enabled by transparency and

open dialogue about impacts.

17.1. GRI’s The Standards

The Standards, through their seven regional offices around the globe, help organizations

understand and disclose their impacts in a way that meets the needs of multiple stakeholders. In

addition to associated companies, the Standards are highly relevant to many other groups,

including investors, policymakers, capital markets, and civil society. The Standards is designed

as an easy-to-use modular set, starting with the universal Standards. The process for The

Standards is to choose a Topic Standards then select, based on the organization's material topics
– economic, environmental, or social. The Standards encompasses and evaluates all three as an

interconnected factor.

18. The Global Sullivan Principles

As stated by the reverend Leon Sullivan, the objective of the principle is to aim that all

aspects or classes are in harmony particularly in businesses and the communities in relation to it.

They uphold the respect for cultural, societal, economic, and socio-political aspects that might

bar the way and do measures as an alternative while maintaining the goal of economic

achievement not just for the business but for everyone as a whole. The Global Sullivan Principle

develops and implements company policies, procedures, training and internal reporting structures

to ensure commitment to these principles throughout the organization as they believe that the

application of the Principles will achieve greater tolerance and better understanding among

peoples, and advance the culture of peace. A great idea from this is that they put upmost the

respect for the land and its people which is a great factor in businesses for it is the main

component and disregarding it means disregarding the idea of an improved business as well.

19. United Nations Global Impact

The United Nations is a prominent organization around the globe that is known for

endorsing sustainability and adverse innovation without risking other factors, through their

branch the Global Compact they foresee a world where everyone is driven to a positive view not

just for oneself but for everyone. Though they are not that strict with implementation for even if

they are a prominent organization in the field, many are still not met thus results to people still

suffering until today, they encourage people to do business inline with their mission which is to
align strategies and operations with universal principles on human rights, labour, environment,

and anti-corruption, and take actions that advances societal goals.

19.1. The Ten Principles

The United Nations Global Impact coined the Ten Principles which is derived from the

Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Labour Organization’s Declaration on

Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, the Rio Declaration on Environment and

Development, and the United Nations Convention Against Corruption that covers the Human

Rights, Labour, Environment, and Anti-Corruption where they believe that by incorporating it

into strategies, policies and procedures, and establishing a culture of integrity, companies are not

only upholding their basic responsibilities to people and planet, but also setting the stage for

long-term success.

19.2. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

September of year 2015 when United Nations the General Assembly created and

incorporated the 17 interlinked goals SDGs which serves as a blueprint to achieve a better and

more sustainable future for all by 2030. These 17 interlinked goals were made sure that if every

organization would comply with, it is possible that the future is all set for that organization. The

SDGs run from societal, environmental, and until economical goals without overlapping with the

others while meeting the common goal.

20. The Prince’s Responsible Business Network

A membership type of organization that is situated and operates in the west particularly in

England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Wales that inspire engage and challenge its members

and mobilize that collective strength as a force for good in society to create a skilled, inclusive
workforce today and for the future, build thriving communities in which to live and work, and

innovate to repair and sustain our planet.

20.1. Build Back Responsibly

Being the one who pioneered the industrial revolution, it is where abrupt changes that

harmed the planet were also first recorded. The HRH Prince of Wales created and pioneered the

Build Back Responsible almost 40 years ago to champion responsible business without risking

the title they earned during the industrial revolution. Through this Build Back Responsible

Program, they eye on its members—the businesses be it a corporation or a local one to maintain

and make sure that the planet is not harmed nor its constituents while they strive economically.

They set and laid out priorities on how businesses can deliver change that is needed for the

society and the planet which is not just a tick-it-out manner checklist that happens only for one

time but progresses every year to make sure that everybody complies with it.