March 29, 2007	Thursday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 9, 1428

ISLAMABAD, March 28: The government on Wednesday launched a project for adoption of Social Accountability 8,000 (SA 8,000) for enhancing country's export potential through ethical production and sourcing in the broader perspective of Corporate Social Responsibility.

The project will entail certification of industrial units in SA 8,000. It is the first auditable standard, which promotes socially acceptable workplace practices.

An official statement issued here said that the main objective of launching of this project was to eliminate international trepidations about workplace conditions and labour practices for improving Pakistan's image abroad.

The specific areas being addressed in this project are child labour, forced labour, health and safety, remuneration, working hours, discrimination, disciplinary practices, and freedom to form association, collective bargaining agents, and management systems.

The methodology for certification will be announced shortly with a programme for creating awareness about the project/CSR/SA 8,000.

The ministry of commerce envisages assistance on a cost-sharing basis to 250 industrial units, engaged in manufacturing and exporting.