SA8000 auditors interview workers privately without management present. What workers say about wages, working hours, and grievance procedures carries the same weight as your documents. Every Critical item must be in place before the audit.
28 items✎ Click to tick📷 Print / Save PDF
0 / 28 complete (0%)
Child Labour & Forced Labour0/0
Age verification documents on file for every workerAadhaar or equivalent. No exceptions.
CRITICAL
No workers under 15 (or local legal minimum if higher)
CRITICAL
No worker ID documents retained by employerWorkers keep their own documents.
CRITICAL
No joining fee or deposit required from workers
CRITICAL
Workers free to resign and leave employment voluntarily
CRITICAL
Working Hours & Wages0/0
Working hours records showing compliance with legal limits (max 9 hrs/day, 48 hrs/week)Auditors calculate average weekly hours from records.
CRITICAL
Overtime register maintained with voluntary sign-upForced overtime = major finding.
CRITICAL
Wages at or above applicable legal minimumCompared against current minimum wage notification.
CRITICAL
Wages paid on time — payroll records on file
CRITICAL
Payslips provided to all workers
MAJOR
No illegal deductions from wages
CRITICAL
At least one day off in every seven
MAJOR
Health & Safety0/0
H&S policy documented and communicated to all workers
MAJOR
Risk assessments for all hazardous processes and equipment
MAJOR
Accident register maintained — all injuries however minor
MAJOR
Emergency response procedure and drill records
MAJOR
First aid facilities accessible in each section
MAJOR
PPE provided and in use for relevant tasks
MAJOR
Freedom of Association & Non-Discrimination0/0
Worker welfare committee with elected worker representatives
CRITICAL
Regular worker committee meetings with signed minutes
MAJOR
No discrimination in hiring, pay, promotion, or treatmentPay records should show equal pay for equal work.
CRITICAL
Non-discrimination policy documented and displayed
MAJOR
No harsh or inhumane disciplinary practicesDocumented disciplinary procedure consistently applied.
CRITICAL
Grievance & Management System0/0
Written grievance procedure accessible to all workersSA8000 auditors ask workers if they know how to raise a grievance.
CRITICAL
Workers aware of grievance procedure — can describe it without prompting
CRITICAL
No retaliation against workers who raise grievances
CRITICAL
Social accountability policy signed by senior management
MAJOR
Annual management review of social compliance
MAJOR
How to use this checklist: Tick each item you currently have in place. Items marked CRITICAL are highest-priority audit findings. Items marked MAJOR will result in a major nonconformance if absent. Use the Print button to save a PDF for your records or to share with your quality team.
This checklist is a readiness guide — not a substitute for a formal gap assessment. Engage a NABCB-accredited CB for a pre-assessment before your formal certification audit. Read the full SA8000 guide ↗