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Sedex 2 Pillar Audit is a specific audit for ethical trade which evaluates two out of four Sedex pillars – Labour Standards and Health & Safety and it is carried out for exporters and manufacturers who wish to prove their responsible attitude towards their work environment for their international customers. This is important since most international companies, in particular those operating in the UK, EU and US markets, refuse placing or repeating their order with a company unless it has a Sedex audit certificate. The very first step that has to be done for any business is its registration in the Sedex system (SMETA) and obtaining a valid Sedex membership number which is necessary for carrying out the audit. Those companies that do not do things in the right order may wait for weeks for the approval of their buyers. Legal4Sure covers the whole process of Sedex 2 Pillar Audit including renewal.
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It is the true audit checklist we take our clients through in conducting a Sedex 2 Pillar Audit. It comes from the requirements verified by the customers and Sedex-accredited auditors themselves on site. Following the checklist will save us from any surprises and shorten the waiting period for certification. Done correctly, this process results in a factory that meets buyer requirements, has no unresolved compliance gaps, and is genuinely ready for an unannounced audit visit rather than just paperwork-ready.
Buyers determine whether they require a 2 Pillar or 4 Pillar audit, and hence this will determine the overall scope.
It is mandatory to have a valid Sedex membership number before booking an audit.
Only auditors from the approved Sedex professional service company can carry out an audit that will be accepted by buyers.
This will identify gaps in wages, working hours and safety standards before an external auditor does.
This is the most common violation during labour standard auditing.
Fire safety certificates, first aid certificates, personal protective equipment logs are verified.
Emergency exits, fire extinguishers and personal protective equipment should be sorted out at the shop floor and not just in documentation.
This exercise carried out in audit condition will reveal gaps that are not evident from document verification alone.
The audit date is confirmed with the approved audit company once the site is truly ready.
A specified team member assists the auditor during the walkthroughs and workers’ interview.
Any deviation identified needs to have a corrective action plan submitted by the agreed period with the buyer.
Once the report is approved, it will be seen by all connected buyers in the system.
Sedex reports usually require renewal after 2-3 years.
Legal4Sure has helped manufacturing units and export houses get through their Sedex audit processes regarding Labour Standards and Health and Safety aspects for their buyers, which include some of the biggest retail and ecommerce names, thus we are well aware of all the issues regarding documentation that first time applicants face. Each and every one of our clients has been assigned a Sedex 2 Pillar Audit Consultant who helps them throughout this process.
The documents will be reviewed, corrected, and organized in advance of the audit visit, minimizing unnecessary non-conformances.
We conduct a physical inspection to identify issues related to fire safety, PPE, and hygiene not caught by documentation.
If there are any non-conformances, we will assist in preparing and implementing the CAPR within the buyer's set deadlines.
Your Sedex Report Validity Period will be monitored, and we will follow-up before renewal to ensure continuous buyer access.
Most major retailers and international buyers are not likely to accept a new supplier into their system, or maintain an existing relationship, without a Sedex report in place. In many cases, a Sedex 2 Pillars Audit is often the bare minimum to have on file prior to the issuance of a purchase order.
Good pay structure, workplace safety, and grievances system influence worker retention and productivity. When businesses take a real interest in improving their operations through the audit process, they tend to have fewer labor complaints and turnover.
Over time, non-conformances will multiply over the course of audits until buyers cancel their orders due to persistent issues. Addressing issues in the first round of auditing is far more beneficial for the company.
The above documentation shows that employees have been adequately paid in accordance with the minimum wage. Auditors will cross-check the above documentation with bank statements or slips of cash payments.
The presence of signed contracts shows that the employment conditions have been formally negotiated. If there are no such contracts, it is an indication of informal employment.
Proof of valid fire NOC and Building Safety NOC shows that the premises meet all statutory standards for safety. These are verified for validity and expiration dates during the Sedex 2 Pillar Audit.
Policies for the use of personal protective equipment, hazard management, and emergency plans indicate that there is a formal approach to safety within the business. These need to be clearly communicated to employees, rather than tucked away somewhere.
First aid inventory logs, first aider qualifications for shift work, and workplace injuries are checked to determine whether employee safety management is being done effectively. This kind of deficiency is one of the most common deficiencies observed.
Evidence on how worker grievances are recorded and sorted out is sufficient proof that there exists an effective grievance mechanism, and Sedex considers this crucial for meeting Labour Standards requirements. Verbal mechanisms are hardly ever approved.
Documentation of safety drill activities, personal protective equipment training, and worker inductions ensures that safety knowledge is up to date. The auditors usually check with workers to confirm this documentation.
Proof of factory license, labor department registrations, and the relevant local compliance certificate prove that the company is running itself legally. This is the first level of inspection prior to the inspection of any particular pillar.
Bridging technical complexity and operational excellence across highly regulated global markets.
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.
A Sedex 2 Pillar Audit examines a business based on two of the four ethical trade pillars of Sedex: Labour Standards and Health & Safety. This kind of audit is usually conducted upon request of buyers to get an assurance on treatment of employees and safety of sites without the need for a comprehensive analysis according to the other two pillars of Business Ethics and Environment included in a full four-pillar audit.
In the case of a 2-Pillar audit, only the Labour Standards and Health & Safety aspects are evaluated, whereas in a 4-Pillar Audit, there are also assessments of Business Ethics and Environmental aspects. As a rule, the buyer defines which scope of the audit he/she requires, so you should make sure to clarify it in advance when registering.
It is manufacturers, exporters and suppliers cooperating with buyers demanding ethical trade compliance in particular. Mostly, this is applicable to the apparel, food processing and consumer goods industries.
From the time you register until your report is finally approved, the process generally takes four to eight weeks, based on how ready your documentations and facility are. Businesses that lack adequate wage documentation and safety compliance may find it taking more time.
While this is not compulsory, most first-timers engage a Sedex Consultant in India because most delays occur during the documentation and gap closure phases. The consultant will also interpret the buyer-specific requirements which differ from one retailer to another.
Generally Sedex audit reports last for two to three years, but this is subject to your audit rating and buyer requirements.
The audit company provides a Corrective Action Plan Report (CAPR) stating all the findings and asks the business to sort out all these issues within a specific time period. However, the audit report is still uploaded to the Sedex portal, but the buyers will identify the non-conformances and will ask for proof of resolution.
It is very common for businesses to start with a 2-Pillar Sedex Audit and then switch over to a 4-Pillar Sedex Audit when more stringent requirements arise with the buyers. Most often the Labour Standards and Health & Safety documentation that was already provided by the business can be reused.
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