HAP | The Business of Better Compliance

Insightful session on enhancing integrity and worker participation in third-party assessments at the Responsible Business Alliance 2024. Read more: https://lnkd.in/dSE2FzDi

Hear from HAP’s CEO at the 2024 Responsible Business Alliance Conference in San Jose, California on November 20, 2024. Event: https://lnkd.in/g4fjJYyQ "Driving Integrity and Worker Participation in Third-party Assessments" Speakers: - Emma Laury, Division Chief, Trade and Labor Affairs, Bureau of International Labor Affairs, U.S. Department of Labor - Deborah Albers, Chief Operations Officer, RBA - Andre Raghu, Chief Executive Officer, HAP International Learn more about the framework for Enhanced Disclosures in Social Audits: www.saqframework.org #responsiblesourcing #ESG #ethicalsourcing #bizhumanrights #Sustainability #climate

Looking forward to sharing our “what’s working” Traceability Insights for Value Chains at the Global Footwear and Apparel Traceability Summit Series presented in collaboration between the University of Oregon's Sports Product Management Program and the Dynamic Sustainability Lab at Syracuse University. Great to see academia playing an important independent role in getting the best ideas out there. University of Oregon Lundquist College of Business Environment, Sustainability, and Policy at Syracuse University #csddd #traceabilty #climate #supplychain

#BizHumanRights: BETTER DISCLOSURES FOR SOCIAL AUDIT REPORTS INITIATIVE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD UNDERWAY. Submit your public comment: https://lnkd.in/eGhsevEE Read the white paper: https://lnkd.in/eB8DpwTS With due diligence regulations like #CSDDD #CRSD #CS3D and others now demanding deeper insights into human rights risk across value chains, the Social Audit Quality Framework (SAQF) is a free management resource for organizations currently using Social Audits as part of a wider diligence toolset to identify, prevent and mitigate adverse impacts on human rights as well as demonstrate responsible business conduct as part of their corporate due diligence duty. Proper due diligence begins with a good understanding of the effectiveness of your due diligence process through best efforts. The core elements of the SAQF are to enhance the ability to properly evaluate the basis for independence and credibility for social audits used within due diligence and responsible business conduct systems across global value chains. The SAQF provides a structured methodology, helping end users of social audit reports make more informed decisions on their impact in the company’s own operations, their subsidiaries and value chain(s). Follow HAP research on enhanced disclosures: https://lnkd.in/egq8Dmyh Contact Us at contact@saqframework.org if you are interested to be a thought partner, individual supporter or to help us learn about new related draft disclosure rules or policies. Additional collaborators help us consider diverse points of view and improve the quality of the SAQF policy-making and education efforts. #CSDDD #CRSD #CDP #DueDiligence #Audits #EthicalAudits #ESG #OECD

📢 EXCITING NEWS! THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR THE SOCIAL AUDIT QUALITY FRAMEWORK (SAQF) IS NOW OPEN! We are grateful to the individuals and organizations whose insights and thought leadership helped shape the initial concept of the SAQF. We would like to acknowledge the considerable time provided by organizations such as the Responsible Business Alliance UL Solutions and LRQA to name a few. The SAQF was created to support direct investors, general partners in private markets, due diligence regulators, policymakers, ESG auditors, verifiers, brands, and rating agencies in enhancing effective communication and developing trust. The framework provides an open-source, structured methodology for evaluating the foundational claims of "independence" and "credibility" in social audit reports, ensuring that key measures are visible, outcome-oriented, measurable, and informed by stakeholder feedback. 🔍 With the SAQF, See the Facts for Yourself The SAQF enhances social audit report disclosures, creating a pathway for developing trust and supporting meaningful change in responsible business conduct. It empowers end users to objectively assess and understand the data behind claims of audit independence and credibility, facilitating a deeper insight into the varied landscape of social audit systems. We invite everyone to review and provide feedback to help refine and enhance the SAQF. Visit the SAQF Public Comment Website – www.saqframework.org to share your thoughts and suggestions. Your participation is critical in our journey to provide open-source tools and strategies to improve the effectiveness and accountability of due diligence methods used in human rights and responsible business conduct. Help shape the future of social audits in regulated due diligence systems. Your voice matters. #SAQF #SocialAudit #ESG #ResponsibleBusiness #OECD #Sustainability #CDDD Contact Us at: contact@saqframework.org if you are interested to be a thought partner, individual supporter or to help us learn about new related draft disclosure rules or policies. Additional collaborators help us consider diverse points of view and improve the quality of the SAQF policy-making and education efforts.

Social Audit Reform Goes Beyond Individual Auditor Training (article: https://lnkd.in/ez_rZCx4). While standardized testing and rigorous training of auditors are important, these measures alone do not ensure that a social audit is independent or credible. The intent behind the standards, the methodologies used for assessments, the ability of workers to participate safely and openly as well as other factors are equally critical. (recent NYT research: https://lnkd.in/ekiAaVa6 ) Introducing the Social Audit Quality Framework (SAQF) The SAQF Framework makes the data supporting claims of social audit independence and credibility visible to stakeholders and end users. Individual auditor testing and training indicators are designed to provide measurable insights into the knowledge and understanding that an auditor has about specific aspects of social compliance. However, an overemphasis on these indicators may overshadow equally important indicators that allow audit users or stakeholders to assess for themselves the facts behind statements about the independence and credibility of the social audit process. The risk is that auditor testing and training indicators become a box-ticking exercise, interchangeable for audit independence and credibility, further encouraging the status quo versus more comprehensive evaluations that help develop stakeholder trust. Why the SAQF Matters Now More Than Ever The SAQF will assist end users and stakeholders in better understanding the differences between the range of social audit systems that exist. Enhanced disclosures and communication will support in developing trust. We invite you to participate in the upcoming SAQF public comment period which will begin this month. Your insights and experiences are invaluable as we refine this open source framework to meet the evolving challenges of supply chain management and #CSDDD. Connect with us, share your insights, and be a cited contributor to this important conversation. If you would like to contribute to the development of the SAQF framework, please reach out to us at: https://lnkd.in/gbU5hzAY or 1️⃣💬DM or 2️⃣ contact one of our team members here: 👋 https://lnkd.in/dfZwPma6 ✅ Support greater Independence in Environmental & Human Rights Due Diligence Measurement Systems: https://lnkd.in/ehvfDhEc #esg #OECD #CSDDD #CSDD #responsiblebusiness #supplychain #ethics

The June edition of the Traceability Times is out! NAVIGATING MATERIAL INVENTORIES WHEN IMPORT LAWS CHANGE UNEXPECTEDLY. This month, we take a look at the major challenge of operationalizing a supply chain traceability program when certain materials or suppliers become connected to a strict import prohibition midway through a business cycle. Connect with HAP for policy maker guidance or supplier/vendor training to enhance your due diligence and traceability. Please reach out to us at: https://lnkd.in/gbU5hzAY or 1️⃣💬DM or 2️⃣ contact one of our team members here: 👋 https://lnkd.in/dfZwPma6 ✅ Provide feedback on the Social Audit Quality Framework during the July public comment period! https://lnkd.in/egq8Dmyh #esg #esgreporting #sustainability #sustainabilityreport #responsiblebusiness #ethics #climatecrisis #climate #bizhumanrights #forcedlabour #modernslavery #ethicalsourcing #SustainableBusiness #EthicalAuditing #OECDGuidance #oecd #supplychain #responsbilebusines #climate #climateaction #risk #ethics #traceability

“CULPABLY FAILING” to Adequately Oversee Your Suppliers. A Term Every ESG General Counsel Needs to Get Familiar with SOON. Understanding "Culpable Negligence" in Supply Chain Due Diligence. In recent rulings, Italian courts have started examining the effectiveness of due diligence and social audits connected to human rights claims within supply chains. While no criminal fault was assigned to Brands at this time, the courts identified negligence in the brand's failure to implement adequate measures for supplier oversight. The court determined that this negligence represented a regular pattern and practice of operations rather than a single incident. The Implications for Your Role As a General Counsel overseeing supply chain due diligence or sustainability programs, it is important to understand the term "culpably failing" to oversee suppliers. This legal concept highlights the responsibility of companies to ensure that effective oversight mechanisms are in place. Failure to do so can lead to legal repercussions, especially as global expectations for Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence (CSDD) continue to rise. Introducing the Social Audit Quality Framework (SAQF) In light of these developments, the forthcoming public comment period for the Social Audit Quality Framework (SAQF) is timely (SAQF Public Comment Period Announcement: https://lnkd.in/ez_rZCx4). The SAQF offers a structured framework to evaluate the data behind social audit independence and credibility claims. By aligning your social audit reports with SAQF measures, your company can demonstrate the data required to evaluate the appropriateness of the claims behind social audits. Why the SAQF Matters Now More Than Ever The SAQF will assist end users and stakeholders in better understanding the differences between the range of social audit systems that exist. Enhanced transparency and communication will support in developing trust and fulfilling regulatory expectations. By adopting and integrating the SAQF measures into your company’s due diligence processes, you can begin to mitigate risks associated with inadequate supply chain oversight. We invite you to participate in the upcoming SAQF public comment period. Your insights and experiences are invaluable as we refine this open source framework to meet the evolving challenges of supply chain management and CSDD. Stay tuned: SAQF Public Comment Period Starts in July!   Connect with us, share your insights, and be a cited contributor to this important conversation. If you would like to contribute to the upcoming series, please reach out to us at: https://lnkd.in/gbU5hzAY or 1️⃣💬DM or 2️⃣ contact one of our team members here: 👋 https://lnkd.in/dfZwPma6 ✅ Support greater Independence in Environmental & Human Rights Due Diligence Measurement Systems: https://lnkd.in/ehvfDhEc #esg #OECD #CSDDD #CSDD #responsiblebusiness #supplychain

As a follow up to our earlier series on the use of Social Audits in Regulated Due Diligence, we are excited to announce the upcoming July 2024 public comment period and webinars on the Social Audit Quality Framework (SAQF). The framework was developed in response to the lack of a clear definition for evaluating a social audit reports for independence and credibility. During this period, stakeholders can provide feedback on the SAQF (formerly CAEM) and gain a deeper understanding of its measures. Statement to Industry The SAQF framework aims to assist various industry players, including regulators and companies involved in global trade, by providing a reliable benchmark for evaluating social audit reports. While facilitating evaluations, the SAQF does not endorse social audits as the sole solution for due diligence or responsible business conduct systems but emphasizes the necessity of including disclosures around key data elements that substantiate claims of “independence” and “credibility”. This approach helps evaluate social audit report claims objectively and distinguish between audit systems. The Social Audit Quality Framework (SAQF) is an open-source tool developed by a diverse group of industry practitioners to enhance the effective evaluation of social compliance audits within due diligence and responsible business conduct systems across global supply chains. SAQF provides a structured and measurable methodology for anyone to critically assess the foundational basis for the independence and credibility of a social audit report. This enables end users to see the facts for themselves and more objectively evaluate audit "independence" and "credibility" claims, which are critical for distinguishing between the wide range of social audit systems. The SAQF framework encourages all involved parties—audit firms, individual auditors, and end users like regulators, rating agencies, responsible business initiatives, industry standards bodies, and global brands—to align social audit report disclosures with the SAQF's standards. By requiring social audit report disclosures to align with the SAQF, all parties can more effectively assess the facts behind claims of audit “independence” and “credibility,” ensuring social audits fulfill their role in due diligence or responsible business conduct systems. We invite all stakeholders to actively participate in refining the SAQF by providing feedback that will help improve its functionality and impact. Connect with us, share your insights, and be a cited contributor to this important conversation. If you would like to contribute to the upcoming series, please reach out to us at: https://lnkd.in/gbU5hzAY or 1️⃣💬DM or 2️⃣ contact one of our team members here: 👋 https://lnkd.in/dfZwPma6    ✅ Support greater Independence in Environmental & Human Rights Due Diligence Measurement Systems: https://lnkd.in/ehvfDhEc #esg

A number of important insights for users of Social Audits in these latest reports. Research: https://lnkd.in/eE3zxQ9J. In particular, the whistle blowers insight into the implementation of social audits in country: https://lnkd.in/ecvfmSte HAP is seeking #Seafood Companies to participate in a public-private supply chain tracing proof of concept program to enhance seafood vendor and supplier capabilities to create technically sound supply chain tracing for seafood imports that are economically feasible and appropriate for source countries. If you are producing seafood products from a minced raw material or other forms of blended materials, we are particularly interested in talking to you. Interested parties should email Aadu at HAP International to arrange an initial discussion to learn more about the project opportunity and participants: email: aaditya@hapintl.com If you would like to contribute to the upcoming series on providing a definition to more clearly evaluate the foundational components of individual social audits. https://lnkd.in/eNrHniqS, please reach out to us at: https://lnkd.in/gbU5hzAY or 1️⃣💬DM or 2️⃣ contact one of our team members here: 👋 https://lnkd.in/dfZwPma6 ✅ Support greater Independence in Environmental & Human Rights Due Diligence Measurement Systems: https://lnkd.in/ehvfDhEc #esg #esgreporting #sustainability #sustainabilityreport #responsiblebusiness #ethics #climatecrisis #climate #bizhumanrights #forcedlabour #modernslavery #ethicalsourcing #SustainableBusiness #EthicalAuditing #OECDGuidance #oecd #supplychain #responsbilebusines #climate #climateaction