Social Accountability International is a New York City-based nonprofit that works to promote human rights in the workplace. The group promotes what it calls social certification, which requires companies meet certain labor standards. ¹

The group has joined with other left-of-center and environmentalist groups in forming the Global Living Wage Coalition, which advocates for higher wages in less developed countries. ²

Background

Alice Tepper Marlin and the Council on Economic Priorities, a left-of-center group Marlin founded to promote corporate social responsibility, founded what eventually became Social Accountability International in 1997 as the Council on Economic Priorities Accreditation Agency. Marlin renamed the group Social Accountability International in 2001. ³

The group promotes what it calls human rights at work through socially responsible workplaces. The group works with labor unions, nonprofits, and academia to create these conditions. ⁴

Marlin remained the group’s president until 2016, when Jane Hwang replaced her. ⁵

Activities

SA8000 Certification

Social Accountability International offers the SA8000 certification of compliance with left-of-center social governance standards which the group created in 1997. The group bases these certifications on internationally recognized standards of work including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, International Labor Organization conventions, and national laws. ¹

The elements of the standard are: Child Labor, Forced or Compulsory Labor, Health and Safety, Freedom of Association and Right to Collective Bargaining, Discrimination, Disciplinary Practices, Working Hours, Remuneration, Management System. ¹

The group’s sister group, Social Accountability Accreditation Services (SAAS), provides oversight of the program and certifies the audit firms that carry out the accreditation. ¹

Combating Racial Disparities in Latin America

In September 2021, Social Accountability International received a grant from the U.S. Department of Labor to combat racial disparities and improve working conditions in Latin America. The group received funding along with Partners of the Americas. ⁶

The group used the funding in Mexico to raise awareness about changes to the nation’s labor laws. The group also promoted responsible sourcing practices to Mexican companies. ⁶

In Colombia, the group worked to eliminate racial disparities among Colombia’s Black population in selected port cities. The group worked to ensure companies followed the nation’s labor laws. ⁶

Fighting Child Labor

In March 2022, Social Accountability International received a grant from the U.S. Department of Labor to combat child labor and forced labor in the clothing and palm oil industries in Malaysia. The group worked with Proforest, the Centre for Child Rights and Business, and Our Journey. ⁷

Global Living Wage Coalition

Social Accountability International is a member of the Global Living Wage Coalition, which is organized by Anker Living Wage and Income Research Institute and the GLWC Action Network, which is housed at ISEAL in London, United Kingdom. ²

The group is a leading member along with Fairtrade International and the Rainforest Alliance. ²

Leadership

Social Accountability International’s president and CEO is Jane Hwang, and she has been involved with the group since 2005. Previously, she worked in corporate marketing and legal research. ⁸

Dan Henkle is the chair of the board of directors. Previously, he was president of Gap Foundation. ⁹

Finances

According to Social Accountability International’s 2022 tax return, the group reported $6,710,753 in revenue, $5,764,385 in expenses, and $6,104,611 in assets. ¹⁰

1. “SA8000® Standard.” SAI. Accessed May 13, 2024. https://sa-intl.org/programs/sa8000/.
2. “Members & Partners.” Global Living Wage Coalition. Accessed May 13, 2024. https://globallivingwage.org/about/members-partners/.
3. “Alice Tepper Marlin.” Right Livelihood. Accessed May 13, 2024. https://rightlivelihood.org/the-change-makers/find-a-laureate/alice-tepper-marlin/.
4. “About Sai.” SAI. Accessed May 13, 2024. https://sa-intl.org/about/.
5. “Jane Hwang to Succeed Alice Tepper Marlin as Sai’s CEO.” Social Accountability International. Accessed May 13, 2024. https://myemail.constantcontact.com/Jane-Hwang-to-succeed-Alice-Tepper-Marlin-as-SAI-s-CEO.html?soid=1101273597722&aid=tdX7FuTjVrs.
6. “Two New USDOL-Funded Projects to Address Racial Disparities and Improve Working Conditions in Latin America.” SAI, September 23, 2021. https://sa-intl.org/two-new-usdol-funded-projects-to-address-racial-disparities-and-improve-working-conditions-in-latin-america/.
7. “Sai Launches My Voice with Funding from USDOL.” SAI, March 31, 2022. https://sa-intl.org/sai-launches-my-voice/.
8. “Staff.” SAI. Accessed May 13, 2024. https://sa-intl.org/people/?fwp_people=staff.
9. “Board of Directors.” SAI. Accessed May 13, 2024. https://sa-intl.org/people/?fwp_people=boardofdirectors.
10. “Social Accountability International Inc, Full Filing – Nonprofit Explorer.” ProPublica. Accessed May 13, 2024. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/133960591/202333199349313798/full.