Based on conventions of the International Labour Organisation and related international human rights instruments - including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child - SA 8000 is a common standard for companies seeking to guarantee the basic rights of workers. Sufficiently specific to be used to audit companies and contractors alike in multiple industries and countries, SA 8000 represents a major breakthrough: it is one of the first auditable social standards, and creates a process that is truly independent. Notably, SA8000 addresses the need for wages that meet basic needs - an issue not addressed in many corporate codes and related documents.

SA8000 builds on the proven merits of ISO auditing techniques: specifying corrective and preventive actions; encouraging continuous improvement; and focusing on management systems and documentation proving these systems' effectiveness. To ensure a high level of expertise among participants in the system, SAI has developed professional auditor training courses and a Guidance Document, which details how to verify a facility's compliance with SA8000.

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