ABSTRACT
The relationship between corporate responsibility and socioeconomic development refers to at least three distinct approaches: self-regulation by business, state-led regulation of business activities, and non-state regulation by nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and other actors (Michael 2003; Rasche 2009a, 2009b). This chapter discusses one prominent example of non-state regulation: Social Accountability (SA) 8000, a voluntary certification standard for single production facilities. Considering the massive spread of global supply chains and concerns about a ‘race-to-the-bottom’, SA8000 is a necessary and timely effort. It recognizes the need to ensure ethical workplace conditions throughout supply chains, as well as promote and enforce universal labour standards in a world where national labour laws are often weak or non-existent and international laws are not sufficiently enforced.
