Social Accounting and Auditing, SA800

Social Accounting and Auditing is a way of measuring and reporting on an organization's social and ethical performance. An organization which takes on an audit is transparent and makes itself accountable to its stakeholders.
The role of the social auditor in an assurance engagement is similar to that of a financial auditor.

To perform sufficient work to express an opinion on the reliability of the information contained in the report. Our social auditor does not evaluate the performance of an organization's corporate social responsibility or sustainability activities.

Our auditor's task is to verify data and gather evidence for all significant assertions in the report. Depending on the pre-defined scope, We also assess the report's conformance to particular standards or protocols, (example the SA 8000, AA1000). In addition our auditor will also make specific recommendations to the organization.

Much like ISO 9000 for quality management and 1S0 14000 for environmental management, the SA 8000 provides a set of standards for evaluating social accountability in the following areas.

Child labour:"Companies may not support the use of child labor. The Social Accountability International (SAI) standard defines child labor as the work of "any person under 15 years of age, unless local minimum age law stipulates a higher age for work."

Forced Labour:"Companies may not support the use of "forced labor."

Health and Safety:"Companies must provide a safe and healthy working environment for their employees. Freedom of Association and Right to collective Bargaining: Companies must respect the right of all employees to form and join trade unions of their choice and to bargain collectively.

Discrimination:"Companies may not engage in or support discrimination in hiring, compensation, access to training, promotion, termination or retirement based on race, caste, national origin, religion, disability, gender, sexual orientation, union membership, or political affiliation.

Disciplinary Practices:"Companies may not engage in or support the use of corporal punishment, mental or physical coercion or verbal abuse.

Working Hours:"Companies must comply with applicable laws and industry standards on working hours.

Compensation:"Companies must ensure that wages paid for a standard working week meet at least legal or industry minimum standards.

Management Systems:"Top management must define the company's policy for social accountability and labor conditions to ensure that it includes a commitment to conform to all requirements of this standard and national and other applicable laws.