VH-SCC:2025 Social Compliance Certification

What is VH-SCC:2025?

GCL-SCS:2009 is a Social Compliance Standard designed to assess and verify an organization’s compliance with recognized workplace, labor, health and safety, and ethical business requirements. The standard provides a structured framework for evaluating working conditions, employee welfare, legal compliance, and management controls within an organization.

VH-SCC:2025 Certification demonstrates that an organization has established and maintained systems and practices that support responsible workplace management and social accountability.

Scope of VH-SCC:2025 Certification

VH-SCC:2025 certification is applicable to organizations operating in various sectors, including:

  • Textile and Apparel Manufacturing

  • Footwear Manufacturing

  • Home Textile Production

  • Consumer Goods Manufacturing

  • Packaging Operations

  • Food Processing Facilities

  • Logistics and Warehousing Operations

  • Export-Oriented Manufacturing Units

  • Service Organizations

The certification evaluates workplace practices, labor conditions, operational controls, and compliance with social responsibility requirements.

Objectives of VH-SCC:2025

The objectives of VH-SCC:2025 are to:

  • Promote responsible workplace practices

  • Verify compliance with applicable labor requirements

  • Support safe and healthy working environments

  • Strengthen employee welfare and protection

  • Encourage ethical business conduct

  • Enhance transparency and accountability

  • Improve stakeholder confidence

  • Support continual improvement in social performance

Key Requirements

Legal Compliance

Organizations must comply with applicable laws, regulations, and workplace requirements relevant to their operations.

Employment Practices

Workers must be employed under fair and transparent conditions with clearly defined terms of employment.

Working Hours and Compensation

Organizations must maintain appropriate controls relating to working hours, wages, benefits, and compensation practices.

Health and Safety

Workplaces must provide safe and healthy conditions, supported by effective health and safety controls.

Non-Discrimination

Employment decisions and workplace practices must be free from discrimination and unfair treatment.

Child Labour and Forced Labour

Organizations must prohibit child labor, forced labor, and any form of involuntary employment.

Management Systems and Documentation

Appropriate policies, procedures, records, and operational controls must be maintained to demonstrate compliance.

Certification Process

1. Application

The organization submits an application detailing its operations, workforce, facilities, and activities.

2. Documentation Review

Policies, procedures, records, and management system documentation are reviewed to assess conformity with certification requirements.

3. On-Site Audit

An independent audit is conducted to evaluate workplace conditions, management systems, employee welfare practices, and operational controls.

4. Evaluation of Findings

Audit findings are reviewed, and any identified non-conformities must be addressed before certification can be granted.

5. Certification Decision

Upon successful completion of the assessment process, VH-SCC:2025 Certification is issued.

6. Surveillance Audits

Periodic surveillance audits may be conducted to verify continued compliance and effective implementation of certification requirements.

7. Recertification

Organizations are required to undergo reassessment at defined intervals to maintain certification status.

Benefits of VH-SCC:2025 Certification

  • Independent verification of social compliance performance

  • Enhanced workplace accountability and transparency

  • Improved employee welfare and working conditions

  • Increased confidence among customers and stakeholders

  • Recognition of responsible business practices

  • Strengthened labor and workplace management systems

  • Improved organizational credibility and reputation

  • Support for continual improvement initiatives

Who Can Be Certified?

VH-SCC:2025 Certification is applicable to:

  • Manufacturers

  • Exporters

  • Suppliers

  • Processing Facilities

  • Packaging Companies

  • Logistics Providers

  • Service Organizations

  • Production Facilities

  • Other Organizations Seeking Social Compliance Verification

Maintaining Certification

Certified organizations must maintain compliance with applicable VH-SCC:2025 requirements and successfully complete periodic surveillance and recertification audits to retain certification status. Continuous monitoring and regular assessments help ensure ongoing conformity with social compliance and workplace responsibility requirements.