Caring for people: Social responsibility

In the past years, there has been an increase of awareness of social aspects of manufacturing around the world.

People at the center of our attention

It has been the mission of TUV Rheinland for more than 130 years to protect people and environment from possible negative effects of industrial development. So it fits our very nature to be active in the field of social compliance auditing.

Competent and independent auditing

TUV Rheinland as an independent service provider is performing tens of thousands of audits every year all over the world. To proof our competence in social auditing, we have gained an accreditation by Social Accountability International (SAI), the organization that developed SA 8000 as the first global standard for social management systems.

In addition, TUV Rheinland is cooperating with various organizations in the manufacturing, retail and investment business and is offering audits based on sector schemes or according to customer specifications. Our audits provide a neutral and objective assessment of the working conditions onsite. This assessment can serve to build confidence with retailers, investors and the public about the factory's social compliance, or provide the basis for continuous improvement.

Elements of social audits

Standards for social compliance usually cover a variety of areas. Here some
　 examples:

•  Working hours: compliance with local laws, voluntary overtime, adequate
　 rest time

•  Child labor: no worker under the age of 14

•  Forced labor: workers can leave premises after working hours, no withholding
of ID cards or deposits, no prison labor

•  Wages: payment of legal minimum, timely payment, reasonable charges
　 for food or housing, no disciplinary deductions

•  Health and safety: safe machinery, protective clothing, adequate ventilation,
　 handling of dangerous substances, accessible fire exits, first aid, sanitary
　 toilets, potable drinking water

•  Discrimination: no discrimination based on gender, race, age, union
　 membership; no sexual harassment

•  Disciplinary practices: no physical and psychological violence

•  Freedom of association: workers can exercise their legal rights to form
　 unions and bargain collectively

•  Management systems: definition and regular review of management policy,
　 appointment of management and workers representatives, control of
　 suppliers and sub-contractors

During the onsite visit, our auditors will verify compliance with these requirements by checking records, interviewing staff and observing operations and facilities. Depending on the standard, a pre-audit or a document review might be necessary before the final audit.

Benefits of social compliance

Research and anecdotal evidence shows that there are significant business benefits to socially responsible companies. Among these benefits are:

•  Development of new markets and new customers (e.g. USA, Western
　 Europe)

•  Fulfillment of sourcing and investment requirements

•  Greater employee retention and enhanced performance

•  Better product quality and productivity

•  Improvement and protection of reputation

TUV Rheinland – your partner for social audits

By choosing TUV Rheinland as your partner for social audits, you benefit from our longtime expertise in system auditing, our large pool of experienced local auditors and our worldwide network. Our auditors are close to your factories, speak the local language and have knowledge of local laws. In addition, we offer packages integrating product testing, supply chain management, system audits, training, seminars, and last but not least our coveted TUVdotCOM service.