About SMETA audits
SEDEX (Supplier Ethical Data Exchange) is a global membership organisation dedicated to driving improvements in ethical and responsible business practices in global supply chains.
Sedex is home to one of the world’s leading collaborative platforms for buyers, suppliers and affiliate audit companies to store, share and report on information quickly and easily. It helps more than 50,000 members in over 150 countries to work together to better manage their social and environmental performance, and implement measure to protect people, the environment and their business. APCER is an AAC (Affiliate Audit Company) of SEDEX.
SMETA audits can be two-pillar or four-pillar:
Two Pillars
The two mandatory pillars for all SMETA audits are Labour Standards and Health and Safety, under which the following criteria are assessed:
- Universal Rights covering UNGP;
- Management Systems and Code Implementation;
- Freely Chosen Employment;
- Freedom of Association;
- Health & safety;
- Child Labour and Young Workers;
- Wages & Benefits;
- Working Hours;
- Discrimination;
- Regular Employment;
- Harsh or Inhumane treatment;
- Entitlement to work;
- Environment;
- Community Benefits.
Four Pillars
The two additional pillars in a 4-pillar audit include environmental requirements, in a more extensive form, and business ethics requirements, which go into greater detail on the social responsibility aspect of SMETA audits..
Why perform a SMETA audit?
Demonstrate a commitment to ethics and responsibility;
Ensure fair working conditions;
Demonstrate compliance with applicable legislation;
Establish profitable long-term relationships with suppliers, customers and other stakeholders;
Reinforce Brand values.
Why APCER?
Speed in audit planning;
Issuance of the report in a short time;
Highly qualified auditors;
Dedicated Client Manager.
