Social Compliance Audit Services – Ethical Assessments
As global supply chains expand, ensuring suppliers adhere to ethical and socially responsible business practices is more critical than ever. A social compliance audit is a structured assessment that evaluates a supplier’s commitment to internationally recognized labor laws, ethical sourcing policies, and corporate social responsibility (CSR) frameworks.
Pro QC International is a global quality assurance company that provides comprehensive social compliance audit services, including SA8000, SMETA, and RBA, to assess suppliers’ adherence to global labor laws, health and safety regulations, and environmental standards.
With over 40 years of experience and operations in 100 countries worldwide, Pro QC has conducted thousands of audits since 1984, developing extensive expertise in identifying compliance risks and supporting buyers in collaborating with responsible manufacturers and supply chain partners.
Our social compliance audit services are designed to meet several business needs, including:
- Evaluating potential and existing suppliers for their ethical practices
- Evaluating a factory’s social compliance performance before acquisition
- Improving social compliance system performance continuously
- Meeting the ethical compliance requirements of a client
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Let us manage your supplier portfolio and ensure all your suppliers operate ethically
Why Social Compliance Audits Are Important
Worker mistreatment, inadequate safety standards, hiring child labor, and excessive working hours can expose factories to serious legal and reputational consequences, impacting not only the manufacturer but also the brands sourcing from them. These risks can lead to consumer boycotts, legal issues, and supply chain disruptions, making it essential for businesses to implement stringent compliance measures.
A well-executed social compliance audit mitigates these risks by ensuring that suppliers uphold fair wages, regulated working hours, ethical treatment of workers, and proper health and safety standards. Companies sourcing from global suppliers face increasing regulatory and consumer scrutiny regarding labor conditions, worker treatment, and environmental impact, making proactive audits crucial to maintaining responsible sourcing practices.
A social and ethical compliance audit ensures buyers hold their factories and suppliers accountable for labor conditions.
Pro QC’s Social Compliance Audit Services
At Pro QC, our audit solutions identify risk areas, provide corrective actions, and ensure long-term compliance improvements in supplier operations.
ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) Audit
ESG audits assess a company’s adherence to environmental, social, and governance principles, ensuring sustainable and responsible business practices. These audits help organizations meet investor expectations, regulatory requirements, and corporate sustainability goals.
Our ESG audit process evaluates:
- Environmental performance, including emissions reduction, energy efficiency, and waste management.
- Social responsibility, covering labor conditions, workplace safety, and community engagement.
- Governance compliance, ensuring ethical business conduct, anti-corruption policies, and regulatory adherence.
SMETA (Sedex Members Ethical Trade Audit)
The SMETA audit is one of the most widely recognized social compliance audits. It is designed to assess ethical trade and responsible sourcing practices across global supply chains. Developed by Sedex (Supplier Ethical Data Exchange), it is applicable across multiple industries and provides a standardized approach to evaluating workplace conditions.
The SMETA audit scope includes:
- Labor standards compliance – Fair wages, working hours, employment contracts, and ethical hiring practices.
- Health and safety regulations – Workplace safety, emergency preparedness, and risk management.
- Environmental management – Resource conservation, pollution control, and waste reduction.
- Business integrity and ethical sourcing – Anti-corruption policies, fair trade practices, and responsible procurement.
SMETA audits are conducted using two- or four-pillar approaches, with two-pillar audits covering labor standards and health & safety, while four-pillar audits include environmental management and business ethics. Pro QC’s SMETA-qualified auditors ensure that businesses meet ethical trade standards, helping them improve supply chain transparency and meet stakeholder expectations.
ISO 26000:2010 Social Responsibility Audit
ISO 26000 provides guidelines for integrating social responsibility into business operations. While ISO 26000 is not certifiable, Pro QC assesses alignment with its principles to help businesses implement socially responsible practices.
Key areas evaluated in our ISO 26000 compliance audit:
- Labor and employment practices (wages, working hours, benefits)
- Human rights compliance (fair treatment of workers, non-discrimination policies)
- Environmental responsibility (waste management, pollution control)
- Consumer protection and business ethics
SA8000:2014 Social Accountability Audit
The SA8000 standard is one of the most widely recognized corporate social responsibility (CSR) certification frameworks. It is applicable across industries, particularly in labor-intensive sectors such as textiles, electronics, and consumer goods manufacturing.
Our SA8000 audit process evaluates:
- Prevention of child labor and forced labor
- Health and safety compliance in supplier facilities
- Fair wages and regulated working hours
- Freedom of association and protection of workers’ rights
- Implementation of ethical business practices
Responsible Business Alliance (RBA) Audit
Previously known as the EICC (Electronic Industry Citizenship Coalition) audit, the RBA version 6.0 audit is designed for the electronics and technology industries but is also widely adopted across manufacturing sectors.
The RBA audit scope includes:
- Labor compliance (working conditions, non-discrimination, workplace safety)
- Health and safety risk management (emergency preparedness, injury prevention)
- Environmental policies (energy consumption, waste reduction, hazardous material management)
- Business ethics and anti-corruption compliance
Additional Ethical Compliance Audits
In addition to ISO 26000, SA8000, and RBA audits, Pro QC offers industry-specific social compliance audits, including:
- BSCI (Business Social Compliance Initiative) – Assesses supply chain compliance with corporate social responsibility policies.
- WRAP (Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production) – Focused on ethical sourcing for apparel and textile industries.
- Intertek WCA (Workplace Conditions Assessment) – Evaluates working conditions and legal compliance in supplier operations.
Pro QC’s Social Compliance Audit Methodology
Pro QC’s four-step audit approach ensures comprehensive compliance assessments and actionable improvements:
Step 1: Pre-Audit Planning
- Define audit objectives based on client requirements and industry standards.
- Identify high-risk areas and develop a customized audit checklist.
- Coordinate the on-site audit schedule and supplier engagement.
Step 2: On-Site Audit Execution
- Conduct a physical factory inspection to verify labor conditions and workplace safety.
- Interview workers and factory management to assess social compliance.
- Review documentation (employment contracts, payroll records, safety certifications).
- Identify violations related to wages, working hours, health, and safety practices.
Step 3: Corrective Action Plan (CAP) Development
- Provide a detailed audit report with identified non-conformities.
- Develop a corrective action roadmap to address compliance gaps.
- Assist suppliers in implementing sustainable corrective measures.
Step 4: Follow-Up Audits & Compliance Monitoring
- Conduct follow-up audits to ensure CAP implementation.
- Track supplier performance using compliance dashboards.
- Provide ongoing support to maintain long-term compliance.
Certified Social Compliance Auditors at Pro QC
Pro QC’s social compliance audits are conducted by highly qualified auditors with internationally recognized certifications, ensuring technical excellence and adherence to global standards. Our auditors hold credentials such as APSCA (Association of Professional Social Compliance Auditors), SA8000 Lead Auditors, SMETA Qualified Auditors, BSCI Approved Auditors, WRAP Experts, ISO 26000 Social Responsibility Auditors, and RBA Compliance Auditors.
With years of experience, our auditors bring deep industry knowledge and localized expertise. Their in-depth understanding of local labor laws, industry regulations, and cultural nuances allows them to navigate complex compliance landscapes. Additionally, our auditors are multilingual, ensuring seamless communication with factory workers and management, conducting worker interviews in native languages, and reviewing compliance documentation in local formats. This combination of expertise, experience, and linguistic capability guarantees thorough, ethical, and reliable audit assessments, helping our clients uphold the highest social responsibility and labor compliance standards.
Supplier Portfolio Management: Ensuring Long-Term Social Compliance
For businesses managing multiple suppliers, Pro QC offers supplier portfolio management services, ensuring consistent compliance across all sourcing locations.
Key services include:
- Performing an initial social audit assessment
- Establishing a corrective action plan
- Verifying corrective action implementation through detailed follow-up activities
- Scheduling subsequent annual visits based on supplier risk level
- Providing a supplier portfolio dashboard and performance analysis
Our supplier management team can create a customized checklist that meets the most specific requirements. The supplier management service is particularly suitable for small QA teams with a large global supplier base. Our project team will help reduce overhead and time spent dealing with suppliers and manage all necessary actions for each supplier. Get in touch with us and tell us how we can assist your team.
Why Partner with Pro QC for Social Compliance Audit Services?
Choosing Pro QC for factory and supplier audits offers numerous advantages:
- Stability and Expertise: Founded in 1984, Pro QC is a trustworthy and dependable quality partner with over 40 years of experience.
- Expert-Led Solutions: Technical expert advice from first contact ensures reliable solutions are executed with precision.
- Qualified Resources: Resource transparency and the right qualifications safeguard your interests on every project at every supplier.
- Single Contact Point: A single contact point for quality services globally simplifies your supply chain.
- Stringent Technical Oversight: Meticulous technical preparation, guidance throughout the engagement, and report review by senior engineers.
- Advanced Quality Analysis: Industry-leading quality dashboard, analytics, and supplier performance analysis tools and framework.
- Globally Aligned Operations: Operational processes are optimized and aligned for a seamless cross-regional experience.
Other Factory Compliance Solutions
Factories have a range of local and global best practices and compliance standards to consider when aiming to be a reliable manufacturing partner. If a particular standard is not listed here, visit our Factory and Supplier Audits page to explore our wide range of supplier management services. Our team has the relevant experience to provide a bespoke approach or solution to meet any validation or certification requirement.
We assess your suppliers’ commitment to social responsibility and protect your brand
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