IRCA launches NEW social systems auditor programme

Today IRCA announced a new auditor training and certification programme that will support business globally in the operation of ethical sourcing policies.

With growing consumer interest in ethical conduct, many organizations have recognized that the activities of supplier organizations can pose a serious risk to reputation. Many companies have learned this the hard way after damaging news stories of abuse of labour by suppliers, especially in developing economies where workers enjoy fewer rights and where enforcement is less strict.

In order to manage this risk many businesses now require suppliers to meet social systems standards or in-house codes of conduct. However, for this process to be meaningful, industry requires competent auditors to assess conformance with standards and compliance with local legal requirements.

IRCA Director, Simon Feary, states that "the result of a comprehensive development process is a new Social Systems Auditor programme which we are confident will support third party certification as well as supplier approval Programmes. We look forward to contributing through the certification of auditors and by developing and promoting good auditor training and auditing best practice."

IRCA developed this new programme in conjunction with Marks & Spencer which has emerged as an industry leader in this field. IRCA Certification Manager, Martin Prendergast, explains that, "there is considerable complexity in this area with a wide variety of standards and codes of conduct in the market place. We have selected the ETI (Ethical Trade Initiative) Base Code and SA (Social Accountability) 8000 as reference standards, but we will also accept courses and audits based on other equivalent specifications."

IRCA expects the first social systems auditor courses to be available in July 2004, and certified Social Systems auditors will appear on the IRCA on-line register in early 2005.