SGS Offers Audits to the Newly Launched SMETA V6.0
Sedex has launched the latest version of its ethical trading audit, SMETA V6.0. SGS has over 650 auditors who can offer audits to this latest version in most sourcing countries.
- (1888PressRelease) August 09, 2017 - Sedex, the Supplier Ethical Data Exchange, has just published the latest version of it ethical trade audit, SMETA V6.0. This offers a transparent, independent assessment of a companys business practices, invaluable when the business wants to manage reputational risk in relation to working conditions, health and safety, environmental impact and the ethical business practices of their suppliers.
Sedex is a global not-for-profit membership organization that allows companies to share information about their ethical performance with their trading partners. SMETA, Sedex Members Ethical Trade Audit, was developed through the Sedex Stakeholder Forum (SSF) as a standard protocol to facilitate sharing of audit results.
SMETA is an audit which reviews a company against a compilation of the best practices in ethical business management. It uses a standardized reporting format, incorporating Best Practice Guidance and Measurement Criteria, and, while it is not a code of conduct or a certification process, it does use the ETI (Ethical Trading Initiative) Base Code and local laws to measure performance. It is one of the most commonly used ethical audit methodologies in the world and can be used by both Sedex members and non-members. It is in the public domain and it is accepted across a wide range of industries.
SMETA helps to assist responsible sourcing and supply chain transparency, and provides a platform for continuous improvement across four pillars:
Labour Standards
Health & Safety in the workplace
Environment
Ethical business practices
While the audit can be carried out internally, in most cases, brands and retailers will require a third-party assessment, performed by a specialist like SGS. When it is appropriate, these independent audits are then uploaded to the Sedex database by the auditing company, giving even greater transparency.
The latest version of the SMETA audit, version 6, was published on April 6, 2017 and it came into effect on June 1, 2017. After this, all new SMETA audits will be undertaken against SMETA V6.0 and SMETA V5.0 will only be used to following up findings.
There are a number of differences to SMETA V6.0, including:
Human Rights (Clause 0.A) a new section based on the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. It focusses on the level to which a business and/or site understands and manages their impact on human rights, not just for workers but also in local communities, etc. As a new section, it is aimed at raising awareness and so missing elements will be recorded as observations and not non-compliances. Auditors will collect key data that measures worker impact, such as worker turnover rates, accidents and lost days, etc.
Responsible recruitment (under Regular Employment) includes measurement criteria designed to help identify indicators of modern slavery and forced labor a key problem in long supply chains, especially in industries with seasonal, temporary, agency and migrant workers. Businesses must have a full understanding of the entire recruitment process, making recruitment practices more transparent including the conditions under which migrant, agency and other workers have been recruited and the contractual conditions applied
Business Ethics originally added in SMETA V4.0 as an awareness raising section, this has now been raised to a state where missing elements will be noted as non-compliances
Management Standards increased focus on the need for management systems to ensure the ongoing compliance of good working practices, as well as those related to legal land tenure and free, informed, prior consent
Alignment to Customer Codes new version allows additional requirements from client codes to be included to promote further flexibility and sharing of reports
There are a number of advantages to be gained from auditing against SMETA V6.0. These include:
Using one common format reduces costs and audit fatigue
Helping enhance supply chains and ethical trading programs
Brand protection, by highlighting responsible sourcing and transparent supply chain practices
Making you a reliable business partner by ensuring robust data is collected and held allowing companies to respond to questions from stakeholders and other interested parties with authority
Enhancing customer relationships
Helping manage workforce issues, improving the worker retention rates and safeguarding this important asset
Helps increase transparency as audit results can be shared with existing customers via the Sedex platform
SGS SMETA Auditing Services
SGS has been providing sustainability solutions and services for companies and organizations across the globe for many decades and they have been involved with SMETA audits since their creation in 2005. SGS is an active member of the SSF, helping to drive forward the convergence of audit methodology and reporting, and, as a member of the working group that defined and issued SMETA V6.0, SGS is fully aware of all the new requirements and the intent behind them.
SGSs global network of highly-trained local auditors help bring a pragmatic, added-value approach to auditing, helping companies highlight their sustainable, responsible business practices. To learn more about SGSs Sustainable Audits and SMETA [www.sgs.com/en/sustainability/social-sustainability/audit-certification-and-verification/social-responsibility-audits/smeta-audits]
For further information contact:
Effie Marinos
Global Technical Governance Manager, Supply chain Assessment & Solutions
SGS United Kingdom Ltd.
Tel: +44 203 008 7860
Email: crs.media ( @ ) sgs dot com
Website: www.sgs.com/smeta
About SGS
SGS is the worlds leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company. SGS is recognized as the global benchmark for quality and integrity. With more than 90,000 employees, SGS operates a network of over 2,000 offices and laboratories around the world.
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