Download the Updated Version of the amfori BSCI System Manual

Effective today, 25 September 2023, the new amfori BSCI System applies to all amfori BSCI audits. The amfori BSCI System Manual is a four-part document that aims to provide system users with rules and processes that will make working conditions more efficient and resilient within one’s business. The four parts come along with 18 guide documents that aim to facilitate the implementation of Self-Assessment, amfori Social Audits, and Continuous Improvement.

To facilitate the use of the System Manual, amfori has designed each part for a specific audience. Whether you are an amfori member, a business partner, a monitoring partner, a monitoring person or an auditor, discover below which part concerns you and the approach you should adopt for your situation.

Overall, the update and change of the content aim to align better with the due diligence framework, the amfori BSCI Code of Conduct, the amfori guidelines on the amfori Sustainability Platform, the continuous improvement process and self-assessment tools, the feedback and comments received along the system revision journey. More importantly, the revision takes into account a gender-lens approach.

To ensure accessibility and inclusivity, these documents are available in 11 languages, including Afrikaans, Arabic, Bangla, Chinese, Danish, Dutch, English, German, Hindi, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Khmer, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Serbian, Spanish, Swedish, Tamil, Telugu, Thai, Turkish, Urdu, and Vietnamese.

Which part is meant for you?

Part 1: The amfori BSCI Due Diligence Approach

Designed for members and their business partners, this first part of the System Manual sheds light on amfori BSCI due diligence approach and its implementation steps. It also provides practical tools and services that members and their business partners could leverage to ensure responsible business practices.

This part highlights the importance of the amfori BSCI Code of Conduct, its compliance with international due diligence standards, the observance of the law as well as the necessity to act with due diligence.

What changed?

In addition to what has been said on the update and change of the content, it should be noted that part 1 includes two new chapters (4 and 5) that discuss how to ‘act with due diligence in theory’ and how to ‘act with due diligence in practice.’

Part 2: The amfori BSCI Monitoring Approach

Designed for amfori members, their business partners, monitoring partners and monitoring persons, this second part of the System Manual provides an overview of the amfori BSCI’s holistic monitoring approach and an explanation of the entire amfori BSCI monitoring process, from requesting and scheduling a monitoring to performing one and following up.

This part will teach you how to decide the type of monitoring that should apply to a given situation, and what you should do throughout the entire amfori BSCI monitoring cycle. Interestingly, monitoring partners, scheme managers and monitoring persons should prepare differently for an amfori BSCI monitoring and this part explains these differences.

What changed?

This part features a number of new concepts that align with the amfori Sustainability Platform and HREDD terminology. They include for instance:

Part 3:  amfori BSCI Auditing Interpretation Guidelines

Designed for amfori members and monitoring persons, this part will help better understand the amfori BSCI audit questionnaire. Key topics discussed here include the structure of the amfori BSCI monitoring results, the different types of information they should have, as well as guidelines to interpret these results.

What changed?

• Audit questions have been reviewed to improve accuracy, specificity, and gender responsiveness
• The structure of the report has been updated, in line with the amfori Sustainability Platform
• At the content level, all the data sections are revised. A few names have changed in the amfori BSCI monitoring report to better align with the due diligence framework. They include for instance, ‘audit’ which becomes ‘monitoring’, the term ‘audit report’ which becomes ‘monitoring result’, etc.
• The amfori BSCI audit interpretation guidelines take into account a gender-lens revision approach

Part 4: amfori BSCI Guidelines for Business Partners

Designed for business partners exclusively, this part explains the types of document and guides that amfori BSCI makes available for them and specific guidelines on what is expected in every performance area.

What changed?

• This part also features a number of new concepts that align with the amfori Sustainability Platform. For instance, the term ‘amfori BSCI participants’ becomes ‘amfori BSCI members’, the term ‘producer becomes ‘business partner’, or the ‘amfori BSCI platform’ becomes the ‘amfori Sustainability Platform’
• The content update also takes into account data collection and management

The amfori BSCI System Manual is available in 11 languages – all accessible on the amfori Academy. To access the amfori Academy, please click a first time on the link above to log in; once logged in, click a second time on the link to access the resources.

For more information, please contact amfori at info@amfori.org