SGS Launches Global Training Program to Equip Auditors with Enhanced Forced Labor Detection Skills

SGS Launches Global Training Program to Equip Auditors with Enhanced Forced Labor Detection Skills

(IN BRIEF) SGS has partnered with Stronger Together to develop a training course aimed at enhancing the skills of auditors in detecting and reporting forced labor. The “Detecting and Reporting Forced Labor: Guidance for Auditing” course, now publicly available, equips auditors with the tools to identify hidden labor abuses and ensure the safety of workers. This initiative underscores SGS’s commitment to corporate sustainability and human rights.

(PRESS RELEASE) GENEVA, 16-Aug-2024 — /EuropaWire/ — SGS, a global leader in inspection, verification, testing, and certification, has announced a new partnership with Stronger Together, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to combating exploitation in the workplace. This collaboration has resulted in the development of a specialized training course designed to elevate the skills of SGS auditors in identifying and reporting forced labor.

Recognizing the critical role auditors play in uncovering hidden labor abuses, SGS has launched the “Detecting and Reporting Forced Labor: Guidance for Auditing” course. This new program is part of SGS’s ongoing commitment to maintaining the highest standards of quality and integrity in social auditing.

Partnering for Impact

Laurent Corbaz, Global Head of Finance, IT and Operations for Business Assurance at SGS, emphasized the importance of this initiative: “At SGS, we are always striving to improve the effectiveness of our audits. Partnering with Stronger Together, whose mission aligns perfectly with our goals, allows us to further enhance our auditors’ capabilities in detecting forced labor. This training ensures we continue to provide the best possible service to our clients and uphold our commitment to human rights.”

The course has already been successfully deployed internally, and its impact has led SGS to make the training publicly available. Auditors worldwide can now access the 90-minute eLearning course, which includes interactive modules on identifying forced labor, preparing for audits, effective interviewing techniques, and safely reporting concerns.

Strengthening Auditors’ Capabilities

Jantine Werdmuller von Elgg, Co-CEO of Stronger Together, highlighted the value of the collaboration: “Forced labor is a complex issue, often hidden from view. It is crucial that auditors are equipped with the knowledge and skills to detect it. Our partnership with SGS has resulted in a course that empowers auditors to better recognize the signs of forced labor and take appropriate action to address this serious human rights violation.”

The course is divided into four comprehensive modules and concludes with an exam to ensure participants have a thorough understanding of the subject matter. Upon completion, auditors will be better prepared to identify forced labor, engage effectively with workers, and report issues while ensuring the safety of all involved.

Global Availability and Commitment to Corporate Responsibility

SGS’s decision to make this training publicly available reflects its commitment to corporate responsibility and sustainability. The course supports the company’s broader goal of providing seven million training hours by 2027, benefiting employees, customers, and society at large.

This new training initiative reinforces SGS’s position as a leader in corporate sustainability, particularly in the area of human rights. By empowering auditors with the skills needed to detect forced labor, SGS is contributing to a global effort to eradicate this form of exploitation.

For more information and to enroll in the course, visit our web page.

About SGS

We are SGS – the world’s leading testing, inspection and certification company. We are recognized as the global benchmark for sustainability, quality and integrity. Our 99,600 employees operate a network of 2,600 offices and laboratories around the world.

Media Contact:

Tel: +41 22 739 91 11

SOURCE: SGS