SA8000: Plan recertification and transition separately

Plan recertification and transition separately

If a surveillance visit is approaching, do not label it the 2026 transition audit. SAI’s published route requires recertification for transition, subject to the organisation’s actual cohort and CAB availability. Record changes, training completion and self-assessment separately from the certification decision. A second site or changed workforce also needs scope review; apply the actual programme conditions rather than one invented expiry date.

Link transition to the correct audit

An existing certified organisation transitions at recertification, not at a surveillance audit. Check SAI’s cohort timetable against the last certification year and the CAB’s approval. Completing training and self-assessment by 31 December 2026 does not mean every organisation must recertify that day. Record the learning deadline and the applicable transition audit as separate obligations instead of one generic reminder.

Worker participation and implementation evidence

Connect recruitment contracts, agency arrangements, safety risks, operational controls and grievance handling to the defined scope. Arrange access to interviews while protecting privacy; coaching scripted answers is not evidence. Record each finding, cause, responsible person and effectiveness check. Signed policies or completed training lists alone may not demonstrate everyday conditions, particularly where worker accounts and operating records disagree.

Official sources

Checked: 3 October 2026. Worked examples are hypothetical evidence-planning cases, not customer transactions.

• sa-intl.org
• sa-intl.org
• sa-intl.org