Formally established in 2003 by the Brussels-based Foreign Trade Association (FTA), the Business Social Compliance Initiative (BSCI) aims at social compliance in the supply chain of the member companies, particularly in developing and newly industrialised countries. The BSCI, in close consultation with Social Accountability International ( SAI ), developed a step-wise model for its member companies to monitor their compliance with the BSCI Code of Conduct, and being a stepping stone towards SA8000 certification.
The BSCI does not only provide a Code of Conduct, but an entire management system including tools for social audits, guidance for companies, a database to avoid duplicate audits and capacity building activities to support BSCI members and particularly their suppliers.
The BSCI code of conduct is comprised of both basic required components and best practices. This industry- and regionally-specific set of standards affords greater efficiency in implementation and monitoring of performance. It also lessens the financial burden on BSCI members by eliminating the need for multiple auditing and reporting formats.
| Sub-Category |
Private Sector
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| Standard for |
management system for international retail and importing companies
|
| Focus |
Labor standards of the International Labour Organization ( ILO ), Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and national regulations.
|
| Structure |
Essentially identical to SA8000, but geared toward European retailers. Provides standard format for sharing information.
|
| Conformity Requirements |
Includes both basic requirements and best practice recommendations.
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| Auditing System |
Only SA8000 lead auditors can conduct BSCI audits. Auditors must work for external auditing companies that are accredited by Social Accountability Accreditation Services (SAAS).
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| Geographic Focus |
International
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| Website |
http://www.bsci-intl.org/
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