SMETA

Sedex Members Ethical Trade Audit

Sedex (Supplier Ethical Data Exchange) Sedex (Supplier Ethical Data Exchange) is a non-profit organization founded in 2001 by a group of UK distributors to jointly establish social audit processes and assist in the continuous improvement of supply chains.

In order to share the audit data and act as a catalyst to improve the labour standards of its suppliers, this group created the SMETA (Sedex Members Ethical Trade Audit) in 2004.

Sedex has a reference database of ethical audits. It not only contains data from the SMETA programme, but also from many other social audit programs, such as BSCI, WRAP and SA8000.

The manufacturer to be audited under this programme must complete a Sedex self-assessment questionnaire and insert it into the Sedex system. This system performs a risk assessment based on the data provided, identifying potential non-compliance situations where applicable.

SMETA audits

SMETA audits are based on 2 or 4 pillars:

2 Pillars - Labour and health and safety standards

This audit was developed on the basis of the SMETA Best Practice Guide (BPG) and in accordance with the Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI), a basic code that states:

The job is freely chosen;
Respect for freedom of association and for the right to collective bargaining;
Safe and hygienic working conditions;
No child labour;
You must pay a living wage;
No overtime;
No discrimination;
Regular work must be provided;
Inhuman or severe work will not be permitted.

These 9 points were developed by the conventions of International Labour Organisations, which form the basis of labour law in many countries worldwide.

4 Pillars - Labour and health and safety standards

Taking into account the 2-pillar audit, the 4-pillar audit expands the scope of the review to include environmental requirements and a business ethics section.