A SMETA audit assesses a supplier's ethical and responsible practices in four main areas: labor standards, health and safety, environment, and business ethics. Here are the key components of each area:
- Labor Standards: This section of the audit assesses the supplier's compliance with local laws and regulations related to labor standards, including:
- Employment contracts and working hours
- Child labor and young workers
- Forced labor and human trafficking
- Discrimination and harassment
- Freedom of association and collective bargaining
- Health and Safety: This section of the audit assesses the supplier's compliance with local laws and regulations related to health and safety, including:
- Risk assessments and hazard identification
- Training and awareness
- Emergency preparedness and response
- Occupational health and safety management systems
- Personal protective equipment
- Environment: This section of the audit assesses the supplier's compliance with local laws and regulations related to environmental standards, including:
- Waste management
- Energy and water use
- Hazardous substance management
- Air and water emissions
- Environmental management systems
- Business Ethics: This section of the audit assesses the supplier's compliance with ethical business practices, including:
- Anti-bribery and corruption
- Conflicts of interest
- Protection of confidential information
- Fair competition
- Supply chain management
During the audit process, the auditor will review documentation, conduct interviews with management and employees, and carry out on-site observations to verify compliance with the above areas. The audit results in a report that identifies areas of non-compliance and makes recommendations for improvement.