A multi-stakeholder movement is bringing real improvement to the conditions of workers throughout the global supply chain. Through the Social Accountability International's SA-8000 standard, Alice Tepper Marlin has been leading the push to create a credible, comprehensive and efficient verification system for assuring humane workplaces. Along with the cooperation of management and labor, well-informed consumers can bring the needed pressure for compliance from retail brands and their suppliers at all levels.

Initially, according to Tepper Marlin, no one thought of holding businesses accountable for the actions of suppliers and workers beyond their direct control. Levi Strauss led the way as the first large United States retailer to develop a social and environmental responsibility code of conduct for vendors and suppliers. As the idea has caught on with consumers, more ways are being found to embed corporate social responsibility into the production process. This approach has, in turn, improved the bottom line for businesses with the vision to act ethically.

With a thoughtful yet commanding style, Tepper Marlin describes the strategies SAI has used to bring stake-holders together to work to the same standard. Since laws are local but business is international, it takes the cooperation of forces beyond borders to mobilize change. SA-8000 has emerged to help clarify and unify global efforts into a clear, useful set of standards. By providing practical, step-by-step guidelines, training and verification methods, SA-8000 helps business leaders, managers, labor unions, NGO and government work together with transparency to address such key areas as child labor, anti-discrimination policies and fair wages.