Social Systems
Many companies that operate and source globally are now using
social standards or codes of conduct to ensure that their workers
and workers employed by suppliers are not subject to unethical
treatment or conditions.
These ethical policies have been developed because consumers
and organizations simply do not want to buy from companies that
exploit workers or that allow their suppliers to exploit workers.
By implementing a social system or by requiring suppliers to
do so, companies can protect themselves from the serious risk
of damage to their reputations resulting from negative media
exposure concerning the perceived abuse of workers and communities.
In order to ensure compliance to these standards and relevant
legislation industry needs competent auditors with a good understanding
of employment issues and the complexities of social systems
auditing.
IRCA's Social Systems Auditor programme supports the third party
certification of social systems and supplier approval programmes
(based on in-house codes of conduct and other similar standards)
through the certification of the different categories of auditors
and by developing and promoting good auditor training and auditing
best practice. We have developed this programme in conjunction
with a major UK and international retailer Marks
& Spencer.
Note that we will start accepting applications for auditor
certification to this programme from January 2005. This will allow
time for training organizations to achieve certification of
social systems auditor training courses to support this new
programme.
Benefits to organizations
- Confidence that IRCA certified auditors have the appropriate
training and skills
Benefits to certification bodies
- Reassurance that IRCA auditors employed to audit organizations'
social management systems for certification to standards,
such as SA 8000, are competent and committed to continuing
professional development
Benefits to auditors
- Recognition of your ability to conduct process-based audits
against social systems standards for clients worldwide
IRCA's Social Systems programme is based on a number of internationally
recognized standards: