Social Accountability Scheme – SIRIM 50

Social accountability is the degree to which an organisation is accountable to its stakeholders for its social performance. In recent years, there has been a growing movement among businesses to adopt social accountability standards in order to improve their social practices. While some companies have been reluctant to do so, citing the cost of compliance as a major barrier, many have recognised the benefits of social accountability and have taken steps to incorporate it into their operations.

SIRIM 50 is a social accountability standard that assesses an organisation’s compliance with health and safety regulations, Malaysian labour laws and ethical practices. It defines social accountability requirements consistent with those in other international social standards such as ISO 26000 and SA 8000.

SIRIM 50 enables Malaysia-based organisations, regardless of size or type, to effectively manage and continuously improve their impact on society. It contributes to a company’s efforts to integrate sustainable business practices relating to the fair treatment of workers, welfare of the community, decent work and humane working conditions. Implementation of SIRIM 50, therefore, creates a tangible impact in governance and on an organisation’s relationship with its stakeholders.

Under this scheme, SIRIM QAS will evaluate a company’s performance in nine core areas comprising Child Labour, Forced or Compulsory Labour, Health and Safety, Freedom of Association and Right to Collective Bargaining, Discrimination, Disciplinary, Working Hours and Remuneration. The scheme is a formal review of an organisation’s procedures and code of conduct and offers a clear assessment of the company’s impact on society. Therefore, it is an invaluable resource for any organisation that is serious about making a positive difference in the world.