1 ． Could you please tell us the economical background and reason of the coming out of SA8000

The thought of establishing SA8000 standard was derived from a conversation between SGS Yarsley ICS and the audit department director of International Commerce Agency. Both parties agreed that since the scope of social audit was developing worldwide, it was necessary to audit the social moral, and the business industry should set up the public values and moral rules. To do this, a social moral accountability standard or criterion should be established and its audit and certification activities should be carried out either.

In the June of 1996, American and European business and relative organizations held the first conference about establishing the criterion. The conference aroused a strong echo in business (including leading companies from both shores of the Atlantic) and non-government organizations. They paid much more attentions to the establishment of the standard. A memorandum on establishing the new standard was drawn out during the conference. The CEP of Briton and American non-government organization headquartered in London and New York attended the earliest conferences for framing the standard actively, and was assigned to maintain the new standard. Then, CEP set up CEPAA, whose members are including Council on Economic Priorities Accreditation, Amnesty International, SGS International Certification Services, Avon Products, Toys “ R ” Us, Reebok and Body Shop. Its missions were to track, supervise and examine the development of the establishing work. Many companies in America and some other countries responded very positively to applying the new standard. The draft of the standard was drawn out during the first conference held in New York.

2 ． Have Chinese labor compression production and processing companies felt the stress from SA8000 certification?

Yes. The Chinese labor compression industries such as electronic, clothing, textile, toy, shoes, furniture, sports-instrument, commodity and hardware will feel much more stress from SA8000 certification. All of these industries are traditional predominance industries in developing countries, especially in China.

At present, more than 8000 companies in littoral areas are taking the social accountability audit by overseas customers, especially the European and American ones, and more than 5000 companies are required to accept the audit at any time. Some exporting companies said that you even cannot trade with big companies if you don't improve the labors' condition.