Social Accountability International [SAI] works to improve workplaces and combat sweatshops through the expansion and further development of the currently operative international workplace standard, SA8000, and its associated verification system.

SAI is a U.S.-based, nonprofit organization dedicated to the development, implementation and oversight of voluntary verifiable social accountability standards. SAI is committed to ensuring that standards and the systems for verifying compliance with such standards are highly reputable and publicly accessible. To accomplish this, SAI:

- Convenes key stakeholders to develop consensus-based voluntary standards

- Accredits qualified organizations to verify compliance

- Promotes understanding and encourages implementation of such standards worldwide

SAI's social accountability system approach is based on transparency, credibility and verification.

SAI At Work

SA8000 is currently in use by businesses and governments around the world and is broadly recognized by trade unions and non-governmental organizations [NGOs] as one of the strongest workplace standards. Certification to SA8000 promotes management systems that upgrade working conditions. SA8000 is a powerful tool for creating environments in which both management and workers benefit.

SAI works to continuously improve this system through research, impact assessments, training, evaluation of auditors, and by learning from diverse stakeholders around the world, including workers and trade unions, companies, government, non-governmental organizations, socially responsible investors and consumers, to operate consensus-based voluntary standards; accredits qualified organizations to verify compliance; and, promotes understanding and implementation of such standards worldwide. SAI systems feature certification of compliance at the facility level and support for companies seeking to implement the standards. SAI leverages the power of responsible consumers and investors by identifying companies and other organizations that adopt our standards.