Social Audit
The social audit examines working conditions in a factory on the basis of the SA 8000 standard: no child labour, working hours, wages, health and safety. It fits into supplier assessment alongside the technical and environmental audits.
Also called
- Social compliance audit
- Ethical audit
- SA 8000 audit
- Working conditions audit
Social Audit
Description: Audit of working conditions in a factory on the basis of the SA 8000 standard.
Why is it useful:
- Make sure your supplier does not employ children
- Check the working conditions of a factory (hours, wages, health and safety)
- Allows you to communicate on the establishment of an ethical charter of your company and / or to avoid any bad press
Social Audit: at a glance
- Reference
- SA 8000 standard
- Where
- On site, at the factory
- Topics
- Child and forced labour, working hours, wages, health and safety
- Methods
- Factory tour, document review, worker interviews
- Price
- On quotation
What does it cost?
Audits are quoted case by case, according to the factory size and the scope of the audit.
See prices and termsHow a social audit runs
- ScopeWe agree the reference (SA 8000 by default, or your own code of conduct).
- Opening meetingThe auditor explains the process to management and asks for the documents.
- Site tourWorkshops, dormitories, canteen, emergency exits, fire equipment and chemical storage.
- DocumentsPayroll, time records, contracts and age documents are checked and cross-checked.
- Worker interviewsWorkers are interviewed in private, away from management.
- ReportNon-conformities by topic and a corrective action plan.
What the factory must have ready
- Payroll and time records for the last months
- Employment contracts and workers’ identity documents
- Business licence and safety permits
- Access to all buildings, including dormitories
What a social audit cannot tell you
- What happens at subcontractors the factory does not declare.
- Conditions on other days: the audit is a picture of the day; follow-up audits check that actions last.
- The factory’s technical capacity: see the technical audit.
Supplier assessments compared
Due diligence tells you who the supplier is; the audits tell you what the factory can do and how it works. Choose according to the stakes of the relationship.
| Assessment | How | The question it answers | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Due Diligence | Desk research in local databases and a short interview in Chinese | Does the company exist, hold its licences, and who decides? | Any new supplier met online or at a trade show |
| Initial Factory Evaluation | Factory visit, shorter scope | Can this factory make my product to my requirements? | One-off order |
| Technical Audits | Factory visit, full scope | Is the quality system strong enough for a lasting relationship? | Regular supplier, strategic product |
| Social Audit | Factory visit, records and interviews (SA 8000 reference) | Are working conditions acceptable? | Brands exposed on ethics, retailer requirements |
| Environmental Audit | Factory visit, from basic evaluation to ISO 14001 audit | Does the factory manage its environmental impact? | CSR policy, regulated processes (chemicals, dyeing, coating) |
Frequently asked questions
What is a social audit for?
To make sure your supplier does not employ children, to check working hours, wages, health and safety, to back your company’s ethical charter and to avoid bad publicity.
Which standard is the social audit based on?
The SA 8000 standard, which serves as the reference for assessing working conditions in the factory.
When should I carry out a social audit?
Before placing an order with a new supplier, or if your brand is exposed on working conditions. It combines with the technical audit and the environmental audit.