The Role of Interested Parties

Interested parties, such as NGOs and unions, have played a major role in SA8000 -- from the development of the Standard to the preparation of audits. They will be consulted by auditors before the audit takes place and will continue to have major responsibilities after certification and accreditation occur. Individual workers and non-governmental organizations have a significant role/say in the process--the right to appeal. Through an appeal to the certification body, a local organization can challenge the decision to certify a supplier (i.e., seek revocation of the certification) if they have evidence to support major violations. Indeed, if a local factory receives certification but you (or another interested party) were to have evidence that the factory was in violation of SA8000, a community-based organisation could appeal. As a result, firms will need to consider public recommendations very seriously. For its part, CEPAA will convene meetings of NGOs and encourage certification firms to offer comprehensive training in SA8000 auditing techniques for NGO staff. Likewise, any interested NGO can appeal to CEPAA to revoke the accreditation of a certification firm on the basis, for example, of evidence demonstrating a pattern of improper or incomplete audits or any other violation of the accreditation standard.