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Social Audit Services

SMETA - SEDEX and ethical supply chain auditing for responsible business practices, worker welfare, and global compliance.

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A social audit is an independent assessment of an organization’s labour practices, working conditions, human rights standards, health and safety, environmental performance and business ethics. It evaluates how a business impacts workers, communities and supply chains and is increasingly required to demonstrate ethical sourcing and responsible operations.

We provide expert support in social audit preparation, gap analysis and certification across major frameworks. Whether you are a manufacturer seeking supplier approval or a company strengthening supply chain compliance, we guide you through every stage of the process.

  1. Sedex Members Ethical Trade Audit.
  2. Most Widely Used Globally
  3. SMETA is the world’s most widely used social audit methodology, developed by Sedex. It evaluates suppliers against internationally recognised standards including ETI Base Code and local laws
  4. Four Pillar Audit cover:
  • Labour standards & working hours.
  • Health, safety & environment.
  • Business ethics & anti-bribery.
  • Environment & sustainability.

🌐 SEDEX

  • Supplier Ethical Data Exchange
  • Collaborative Platform
  • SEDEX is an online platform that enables suppliers to share ethical audit data with multiple customers through a single registration, reducing audit duplication and costs.

SEDEX Registration Enables

Share one audit with multiple buyers

Reduce repeated audits from different customers

Access self-assessment questionnaires (SAQ)

Supply chain visibility and mapping

Risk assessment tools

Connect with global buyers requiring SEDEX

What Social Audits Evaluate

Working Hours

Key Requirements:

  • Maximum 60 hrs/week; at least 1 rest day per 7 days.
  • Common Issues Found:
    •
  • Excessive overtime, no time records, no overtime pay.

    • Wages & Benefits

    Key Requirements:

  • Minimum wage compliance, regular payment, deductions policy.
  • Common Issues Found:
    •
  • Below minimum wage, wage deductions, no payslips.

    • Child Labour

    Key Requirements:

  • No workers under 15 (or local legal age); no hazardous youth labour.
  • Common Issues Found:
    •
  • No age verification, underage workers in supply chain.

    • Forced Labour

    Key Requirements:

  • No bonded labour, no retention of documents, free to leave.
  • Common Issues Found:
    •
  • Recruitment fees, document retention, locked dormitories.

    • Freedom of Association

    Key Requirements:

  • Right to join/form unions; collective bargaining.
  • Common Issues Found:
    •
  • Union membership prohibited, no worker representation.

    • Health & Safety

    Key Requirements:

  • Safe working environment, PPE, emergency procedures.
  • Common Issues Found:
    •
  • Blocked exits, no fire extinguishers, no safety training.

    • Discrimination

    Key Requirements:

  • No discrimination on protected characteristics.
  • Common Issues Found:
    •
  • Pregnancy testing, gender-based pay gaps.

    • Environment

    Key Requirements:

  • Legal compliance, pollution controls, waste management.
  • Common Issues Found:
    •
  • Illegal disposal, no environmental permits.

    • Our Social Audit Process

    Gap Analysis

    Assessment of current practices against SMETA requirements. Identify non-conformances and risk areas before the official audit.

    Pre-Audit Training

    Train management and HR on audit requirements. Brief workers on their rights. Prepare documentation and records.

    Documentation Review

    Compile payroll records, contracts, time sheets, policies, permits, and safety records. Ensure completeness and accuracy.

    Mock Audit

    Internal pre-audit simulating real conditions. Identify remaining gaps and implement corrections before official audit.

    CAPA Management

    Develop corrective and preventive action plans for any findings post Official audit. Monitor implementation and closure of non-conformances.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    SMETA (Sedex Members Ethical Trade Audit) is the world’s most widely used social audit, independently evaluating a supplier’s labour practices, working conditions, health and safety, environmental performance, and business ethics. It is increasingly required by global retailers and brands to demonstrate ethical sourcing. Achieving SMETA compliance opens access to international supply chains and builds credibility as a responsible business.

    A four-pillar SMETA audit evaluates: Labour Standards & Working Hours; Health, Safety & Environment; Business Ethics & Anti-Bribery; and Environment & Sustainability. Common issues found include excessive overtime, below-minimum wages, blocked emergency exits, no safety training, and missing environmental permits.

    SEDEX is an online platform allowing suppliers to store audit data and share it with multiple buyers through a single registration — eliminating the need for repeated audits from different customers. It also provides self-assessment questionnaires, supply chain risk tools, and direct connectivity with global buyers who require SEDEX registration as a procurement condition.

    The most frequent issues include: working hours exceeding 60 hours per week; wages below the legal minimum; no age verification procedures; retention of worker documents or recruitment fees; blocked fire exits; no PPE or safety training records; and absence of environmental permits. Addressing these through a structured gap analysis before the official audit is critical for a successful outcome.

    Preparation follows five steps: gap analysis against SMETA requirements; management and worker training on audit standards and rights; documentation review covering payroll, contracts, timesheets and safety records; a mock audit to identify and correct remaining gaps; and post-audit CAPA management to close any non-conformances. Working with an experienced consultant throughout significantly improves first-time audit success.

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