Social auditing can be improved with a deeper focus on the issues of human trafficking for forced labour and the unique circumstances facing migrant workers. Social auditors and certifiers can help eliminate human trafficking for forced labour by developing and implementing auditing procedures that better identify the risks and vulnerabilities, before they turn into abuse and exploitation.

Social Accountability International’s (SAI) SA8000 Standard is one of the world’s first auditable social certification standards for decent workplaces, across all industrial sectors. It is based on the UN Declaration of Human Rights, conventions of the ILO, UN and national law, and spans industry and corporate codes to create a common language to measure social performance. It includes the following nine elements: Child Labour; Forced or Compulsory Labour; Health & Safety; Freedom of Association & Right to Collective Bargaining; Discrimination; Disciplinary Practices; Working Hours; Remuneration, and Management Systems.

This webinar discussed how companies can develop successful auditing techniques and initiatives. What sectors have been effective in utilizing these initiatives? What companies have made significant progress with social auditing and certification around human trafficking? How can companies begin this process and where can leadership turn to begin to initiate these initiatives?

This webinar was the fifth of the RESPECT Webinar Series 2016 “The Private Sector Countering Human Trafficking”, looking at emerging issues surrounding human trafficking and promising anti-trafficking initiatives from the private sector. This series is hosted by the Global Initiative against Transnational Organized Crime and Babson College’s Initiative on Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery. This webinar is sponsored by Dentons and also supported by TraCCC, the Terrorism, Transnational Crime and Corruption Center at George Mason University.

The webinar featured the following speakers:

• Roel Nieuwenkamp, Due Diligence on Forced Labour in Supply Chains, Chair of the OECD Working Party on Responsible Business Conduct, OECD
• Singh Sanjiv, Senior Trainer and SAI Authorised Representative – Middle East, Social Accountability International (SAI)
• Rochelle Zaid, Executive Director, Social Accountability Accreditation Services (SAAS)
• Ben Vanpeperstraete, Supply Chain Coordinator, UNI Global Union – IndustriALL Global Union
• Chloe Poynton, Principal, Article One (moderator)