A local government office in the Medak district of Andhra Pradesh
State, India, has gained SA8000 certification, the standard that
assesses organizations on labour conditions, union rights and health
and safety. The award is the first SA8000 certification of a
governmental body in Asia.
One of the implications is that departments reporting to the Medak
district office are told about SA8000 requirements and will be
monitored on their progress in implementing them. The departments are
regarded in the same way as suppliers to an SA8000-certified
manufacturing or retailing enterprise and are treated in keeping with
the standard’s emphasis on management systems and the checking of
suppliers.
Y.S. Rajasekhara, chief minister of Andhra Pradesh, encouraged all
districts in the state to follow the example of Medak, which has a 2.5
million population and is about 60 miles north of Hyderabad.
Rajasekhara said his government would ‘give utmost priority for good
governance and speedy redressal of people’s grievances’.
