Social Compliance Audit (SMETA / SA8000)
Verify your factory’s labour standards, worker rights, and ethical practices. Essential for brands with CSR commitments and retail compliance requirements.
What Is a Social Compliance Audit?
A Social Compliance Audit assesses your factory’s adherence to ethical labour standards, worker rights, and environmental practices. Global QC Gate conducts audits aligned with SMETA (Sedex Members Ethical Trade Audit) and SA8000 frameworks — the two most widely recognised international standards for ethical supply chains.
Social audits are increasingly required by global retailers, brands, and procurement departments as part of their supplier approval process and CSR reporting obligations.
What We Audit
- Labour standards: Working hours, overtime, rest periods, minimum wage compliance
- Child labour: Age verification, prohibition of child and forced labour
- Freedom of association: Workers’ right to organise and bargain collectively
- Health & safety: Workplace safety, PPE, fire safety, emergency procedures
- Environment: Waste management, chemical handling, emissions
- Management systems: Documentation, corrective action procedures, grievance mechanisms
- Subcontracting: Identification and control of sub-suppliers
SMETA vs SA8000
SMETA is the most widely used social audit format globally, required by thousands of brands and retailers. Our SMETA-aligned audit covers 2-pillar (Labour & H&S) or 4-pillar (+ Environment & Business Ethics) assessments.
SA8000 is an internationally recognised certification standard managed by Social Accountability International. We provide gap analysis and audit preparation for SA8000 certification.
Book a Social Compliance Audit
Available in all 20+ countries we operate · Detailed report with corrective action plan · Delivered within 48 hours