SA 8000 is an international certification standard that encourages organizations to develop, maintain and apply socially acceptable practices in the workplace. The SA 8000 provides guidelines and principles on various labor issues so as to minimize them and helps in creating a healthy work place environment. It addresses issues like forced and compulsory labor, child labor, occupational health and safety, freedom of association and right to collective bargaining, gender and wages discrimination, disciplinary practices, minimum working hours, equal compensation, and management systems.