November Newsletter

SA8000 Standard Revision

Public Comment Period - Final Week!

SAI is currently undertaking a full revision of our SA8000 Standard for Decent Work. The purpose of this revision is to ensure that SA8000 continues to serve as a leading benchmark for ethical workplaces at all levels of the value chain, reflecting evolving human rights risks and good practices.

Public Comment Period (September 16 - November 17, 2024): The draft Standard is posted online and we invite anyone with an interest in the future of decent work to review and provide comments, feedback, and suggestions.

📍 Ho Chi Minh City Feedback Workshop: SAI will be hosting a public in-person feedback workshop in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam on November 22, 2024. Visit our website for details and registration information.

💻 Feedback Webinars: Join one of our SA8000:2025 feedback webinars as an additional opportunity to provide input to the drafted Standard. Webinars are open to all. Even if you plan to attend a webinar, we encourage you to also complete the webform during the public comment period.

Date	Time	Language	Registration Link
November 26, 2024	10:30AM - 11:30AM EST	Spanish	Register - November 26
December 3, 2024	10:30AM - 11:30AM IST	English	Register - December 3
December 4, 2024	10:00AM - 11:00AM EST	English	Register - December 4
December 5, 2024	11:00AM - 12:00PM CST	Mandarin	Register - December 5
December 6, 2024	2:00PM - 3:00PM CEST	Italian	Register - December 6

Latest News from MY Voice

Check out the latest news from MY Voice, our project to reduce forced labor and child labor in Malaysia's palm oil and garment industries:

🟢 MY Voice is on Facebook! Follow us there for the latest project updates and opportunities to engage directly.

🟢 In September and October 2024, MY Voice launched a capacity-building collaboration program with 15 civil society organizations and unions. Read more about it.

🟢 MY Voice presented the Child Rights Action Hub at the 2024 UN Responsible Business and Human Rights Forum in Bangkok in September. Read about the panel.

SAI and APSCA Workshops in Italy

This month, SAI hosted three workshops throughout Italy (Milan, Rome, and Naples) to engage with SA8000 auditors and Certification Body representatives in the region. Part one of the workshops focused on the SA8000 Standard revision – providing participants an opportunity to learn more about this process and discuss issues pertinent to SA8000 users in Italy.

Part two of the workshops was co-hosted by APSCA (Association of Professional Social Compliance Auditors), during which SAI was joined by Kara Chan, Director of Exams at APSCA. APSCA’s mission is to enhance the professionalism, consistency and credibility of individual auditors and organizations performing independent social compliance audits. The workshop discussions focused on membership qualifications, provided clarity about exam expectations, and answered participants' questions. These were the first APSCA engagement events in Italy and we look forward to more to come. For further information about APSCA, please visit their website.

Palma Futuro Team Spotlight: Florencia González

For the past five years, our Palma Futuro project has built up robust social performance systems to improve conditions for workers at every level of the palm oil supply chain in Colombia and Ecuador. As Palma Futuro comes to a close, we are sharing stories that highlight the impact and sustainability of the project.

This month, one of Palma Futuro's Lead Trainers, Florencia González, sat down with us for a Q&A. Florencia tells us about her experience working closely with palm oil producers and extraction mills in Ecuador and Colombia, and how she sees this work living on beyond the project.