ABSTRACT
Every company with a supply chain, especially one that extends overseas, faces the challenge of ensuring not only that its suppliers produce goods that meet rigorous quality standards but also that these goods are made in factories that meet internationally recognized workplace standards. In 1995, Gap Inc. faced allegations of serious labor rights abuses at Mandarin International factory, a third-party garment supplier in El Salvador, as well as a national campaign by the National Labor Committee to spotlight these abuses. Gap Inc. collaborated with three NGOs—Business for Social Responsibility (BSR), the Center for Reflection, Education, and Action (CREA), and the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility (ICCR)—to form an Independent Monitoring Working Group (IMWG). The language of the SA8000 standard and its Guidance Document helps factory managers understand in operational terms what they should strive to attain. The accreditation evaluation includes an office review, witness audits to observe how auditors conduct an SA8000 audit, and periodic surveillance audits.
