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The Sedex audit requirements represent the labor practices, health and safety procedures, environmental practices and business ethics that need to be shown by a supplier to their customers through the Sedex platform. Most audits are based on the SMETA audit protocol, which means that the facility will be measured against the ETI Base Code, ILO conventions and national legislation. The knowledge of Sedex audit requirements before the date of an audit is set is what makes the difference between an unproblematic report and a list of findings. First of all, you have to register your facility on the Sedex platform and find out from your customer whether you will need a 2 pillar or 4 pillar audit. Compliance with the Sedex audit requirements ensures that orders from retailers and brands are not stopped.
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This is the actual process, and our team walks you through it from scoping to renewal. Each step is sequenced so your records, policies and practices line up with what an auditor will test. Followed in order, it helps you meet every requirement, avoid compliance gaps that turn into non-conformances, and stay audit-ready between cycles.
The scope of buyers' audit determines whether a buyer will conduct a 2-pillar audit or 4-pillar audit.
A registered site profile is required for linking your audit report with your profile.
Your responses help determine which practices should be improved before they are seen by an auditor.
Every clause of Base Code has corresponding questions; hence, this helps in identifying the areas that require improvement.
A walk through the site and documents review converts assumptions into concrete gaps.
Written policies should reflect the actual practices regarding salary, working hours, safety, and workers' treatment.
Well-organized and up-to-date document pack saves time and disputes during the audit.
People who understand the policies give consistent answers in interviews.
Ensure there is adequate time for rectification before the actual audit.
Having a coordinator will make the audit process more efficient.
Each non-conformance must have a root cause and resolution.
Continuous monitoring helps to ensure that record keeping, safety measures, and practices remain consistent throughout the year.
Legal4Sure has been assisting factories and exporters throughout India in compliance with Sedex and SMETA audits, and our team of consultants works on the basis of findings from actual audits and not on theoretical knowledge. Each client is assigned an individual consultant under our Sedex Audit Support Program.
We go through, arrange, and fix your documents according to all criteria prior to the audit. You will have no last-minute issues related to payroll, safety, and policies.
The team conducts a complete SMETA audit, including interviews with both workers and management, and gives you a list of all gaps with the responsible persons and deadlines. You are ready to go through the audit by going through it in advance.
The sedex audit training offered by us is based on specific roles, and consists of separate classes for managers, HRs, supervisors and workers. Each group gets familiar with the actual questions asked, which can be conducted in local languages, if necessary.
We assist you in preparing a reaction to the results, in preparing a corrective action plan, and scheduling the follow-up before the next audit cycle.
Many retailers and brands require a valid SMETA audit from their suppliers before initiating or refreshing any order. Non-compliance might cause the stopping of deliveries, more audits or move buyers to look for another supplier. Complying with Sedex Compliance Standards will keep your facility listed among approved suppliers and orders coming.
Buyers assess suppliers in part on how consistent management and workers’ descriptions are about the actual practices. When the standards are implemented in actuality, audit discrepancies will be minimal and relations with buyers improve. Workers gain too, since their rights, pay rates and working conditions are assured.
The existing open discrepancies might build up in later audits and hurt your reputation with a number of buyers simultaneously. Integrating the standards into everyday practices will make record keeping, safety procedures and wage structures more consistent. That will decrease the cost of every audit in the future.
Formal adoption of ETI Base Code will be proved by written policies covering child labour, forced labour, discrimination, harassment and grievance handling. The policy should be signed, dated and consistent with Sedex Compliance Standards; and communicated to workers in their native language.
The personnel file should include appointment letter, age proof and identification of each worker including temporary and agency labour. These documents allow to verify legal working age and voluntariness of employment.
The consistency of payroll, time cards and payment proofs with each other and legal minimums will be audited to prove that all workers are properly paid and working hours do not exceed the limit.
The fire safety certificate, risk assessment, drills records, first aid provision and machines maintenance records will be audited to prove that risks are recognized and managed. Such documents are the most frequently missing or outdated.
Pollution control permissions, waste disposal records and utility usage details reflect the management of environment by the site. These are verified in 4-pillars audit.
Anti-bribery policies, supplier codes and whistleblower policies demonstrate how the site does its business ethically. Auditors try to verify if these documents are not just documented but understood and practiced as well.
Factory license, PF, ESI and others demonstrate how the unit runs itself legally. Auditors require up-to-date documents in order to conduct the audit; hence, an outdated document raises questions.
Supporting manufacturers, exporters and suppliers across industries where buyer compliance and responsible sourcing requirements are important.
Support with labour practices, worker health and safety, working hours, wages, hygiene, environmental controls and ethical workplace requirements.
Covers working conditions, wages, working hours, worker welfare, health and safety, environmental practices and responsible employment systems.
Helps brands and manufacturers prepare for SMETA assessments covering labour standards, workplace safety, worker welfare and responsible sourcing practices.
Supports compliance with labour, health and safety, environmental and ethical business requirements across manufacturing and supply-chain operations.
Addresses worker welfare, occupational health and safety, environmental practices, ethical business conduct and workplace documentation required for responsible sourcing assessments.
Focuses on occupational safety, chemical handling, environmental management, worker welfare, emergency preparedness and ethical workplace practices.
Supports manufacturers with labour standards, workplace safety, environmental practices, worker documentation and ethical business requirements.
Helps manufacturers prepare for assessments covering worker conditions, health and safety, working hours, environmental practices and responsible employment.
Supports responsible manufacturing through controls for worker welfare, health and safety, labour practices, environmental management and ethical business conduct.
Covers labour standards, occupational safety, worker welfare, environmental practices, responsible sourcing and business ethics across manufacturing operations.
Helps suppliers strengthen systems covering worker welfare, health and safety, labour practices, environmental management and responsible supply-chain expectations.
Supports factories with workplace safety, working conditions, labour practices, environmental controls, worker documentation and ethical business practices.
Addresses labour conditions, occupational health and safety, environmental practices, worker welfare and ethical workplace requirements in packaging operations.
Focuses on worker welfare, working conditions, health and safety, environmental practices, responsible employment and ethical sourcing.
Supports businesses with worker safety, working hours, employment practices, workplace conditions, environmental controls and responsible operations.
Helps organisations assess responsible sourcing practices, labour standards, worker welfare, ethical conduct and supplier-related social compliance requirements.
Before working with us, most factories ask the same things. These FAQs cover what Legal4sure does and how we support you.
It is guided by the ETI Base Code, ILO conventions and local law using the SMETA audit approach. It relates to labour standards, health & safety, and for the 4 pillars audit, includes the environment and business ethics. The buyer determines the scope that relates to the factory.
The factory needs to be registered in Sedex, complete the self-assessment and be audited by a certified auditor. It needs to provide policy documents, employee documents, wage & safety records, and facilitate interviews with workers and managers. The non-conformities will require a correction plan and closing evidence.
They need to comply with both the Base Code and Indian labour, health & safety and environmental laws, and wherever there is a difference, the stricter one prevails. This includes paying lawful wages, work hours, safe workplace, no child or forced labour, and raising issues freely. Evidence needs to be provided for everything.
These standards are based on ETI Base Code that includes ILO conventions and national laws as well. SMETA translates them into quantifiable criteria to check within each pillar. Thus, buyers have a unified standard to evaluate suppliers in different countries.
It depends on the requirements of your buyer. 2-pillars audit means labour standards and health & safety issues only while 4-pillars audit includes also environment and business ethics aspects. Make sure to have the scope written down before starting preparations.
Frequency is established by the buyer and the most common requirement is annual re-audit. Sometimes the buyer extends the frequency after the good outcome while it can also be shortened after some negative findings.
In-house teams may do fine if they are familiar with the standards, although in most cases, the help is much needed. We cover everything related to the Sedex audit process and conduct sedex audit training for management, supervision, and staff. Getting the help early will most often be cheaper than a failed audit.
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