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amfori BSCI (Business Social Compliance Initiative) is a leading social audit system used by global brands and retailers to manage human-rights and labour risks in their supply chains. It is owned and managed by amfori, a global business association for companies of all sizes and sectors. For manufacturers supplying amfori members, understanding the BSCI requirements is the first step toward passing the audit and keeping the business relationship.
This guide explains exactly what the BSCI requirements are, how they are structured into 13 Performance Areas, the critical numeric thresholds auditors check, and how the results are scored from A to E.
What Is amfori BSCI?
amfori is headquartered in Brussels, Belgium (Avenue de Tervueren 270, 1150 Brussels), with an APAC office in Hong Kong SAR, China and an office in Mumbai, India. The association counts 2,400+ members in 50+ countries, supported by 58,000+ suppliers in 120+ countries, and more than 40,000 audits are performed every year through its collaborative platform. Fifteen local network representatives support members around the world.
BSCI is described by amfori as a solution that supports "trusted and comprehensive social risk management across key areas beyond tier 1." Importantly, BSCI is not a simple pass/fail certificate. The audit produces a rating from A (very good) to E (unacceptable) based on how well a site meets the amfori BSCI Code of Conduct. That rating, not a binary certificate, is what members use to decide on follow-up and continued sourcing.
The amfori BSCI Code of Conduct
All BSCI requirements flow from the amfori BSCI Code of Conduct (version 2021). The 2024 update realigned the document with amfori's brand guidelines, but the content remains consistent with the 2021 version, and the English version is the legally binding one. It is a commitment document for amfori members and their business partners to exercise human-rights due diligence and environmental protection in their global supply chains.
The Code is explicitly based on, and refers to, internationally recognised references:
United Nations (UN) Universal Declaration of Human Rights
International Labour Organization (ILO) Conventions and Recommendations
UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGP)
OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises
UN Children's Rights and Business Principles
Gender Dimensions of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights
OECD Sectoral Guidance Documents
Where national law sets a lower standard of protection than the Code, signatories must abide by the principle that provides the highest protection to workers and the environment, without contradicting the country's legal framework.
The 13 BSCI Performance Areas (Requirements)
The Code is implemented through 13 Principles, which in the audit are called Performance Areas (PAs). Each PA is assessed through a set of audit questions. The table below shows the full structure and the number of crucial questions in each area — crucial questions carry greater weight because they represent the most significant risk of harm to workers.
| Performance Area | Total Questions | Crucial Questions |
|---|---|---|
| PA 1: Social Management System and Cascade Effect | 7 | 0 |
| PA 2: Workers Involvement and Protection | 5 | 1 |
| PA 3: The Rights of Freedom of Association and Collective Bargaining | 4 | 1 |
| PA 4: No Discrimination, Violence or Harassment | 3 | 1 |
| PA 5: Fair Remuneration | 6 | 2 |
| PA 6: Decent Working Hours | 4 | 3 |
| PA 7: Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) | 25 | 5 |
| PA 8: No Child Labour | 4 | 1 |
| PA 9: Special Protection for Young Workers | 6 | 2 |
| PA 10: No Precarious Employment | 4 | 1 |
| PA 11: No Bonded, Forced Labour or Human Trafficking | 4 | 2 |
| PA 12: Protection of the Environment | 5 | 0 |
| PA 13: Ethical Business Behaviour | 4 | 1 |
| TOTALS | 81 | 20 |
Occupational Health and Safety (PA 7) is by far the largest area, with 25 of the 81 questions. The 20 crucial questions are spread across PAs 2 through 11 and PA 13, reflecting where the greatest risk of harm to workers lies.
Core Requirement Thresholds Auditors Check
Beyond the 13 areas, several requirements have specific, auditable thresholds. These are the items most likely to trigger a finding if not met.
Decent Working Hours (PA 6)
Workers must not be required to work more than 48 standard hours per week (ILO exceptions recognised).
Overtime is permitted only as an exceptional, voluntary practice, paid at a premium rate of at least 125% of the standard rate.
Workers have the right to resting breaks each working day and to at least one day off in every seven days.
No Child Labour (PA 8)
Signatories must not employ children below the minimum age of completion of compulsory schooling, which shall not be less than 15 years, unless the exceptions recognised by the ILO apply.
Robust, non-degrading age-verification mechanisms must be part of recruitment.
Young workers must not work at night and must be protected from conditions prejudicial to their health, safety, morals, and development.
Fair Remuneration (PA 5)
Wages must comply, as a minimum, with government minimum-wage legislation or industry standards approved through collective bargaining, whichever is higher.
Wages are paid regularly, timely, and in legal tender; deductions are allowed only where law or collective agreement permits.
Signatories work progressively toward a living wage sufficient for a decent standard of living.
No Discrimination, Violence or Harassment (PA 4)
The Code lists explicit grounds on which workers must not be discriminated against or excluded: sex, gender, age, religion, race, caste, birth, social background, disability, ethnic and national origin, nationality, membership in unions or other legitimate organisations, political affiliation or opinions, sexual orientation, family responsibilities, marital status, pregnancy, diseases, or any other condition that could give rise to discrimination.
Freedom of Association and No Forced Labour
Workers have the right to form and join trade unions and to bargain collectively, without distinction and irrespective of gender.
Signatories must not engage in any form of servitude, forced, bonded, indentured, trafficked, or non-voluntary labour (PA 11).
The Employer Pays Principle applies: no recruitment fees or costs are charged to workers; there is freedom of movement and no retention of identity documents; workers have access to free, accurate information and to dispute resolution.
Occupational Health and Safety, Environment, and Ethics
OHS (PA 7): free and tailored PPE; access to potable water, safe eating/rest areas, and adequate toilets; emergency procedures, firefighting equipment, and clear escape routes.
Protection of the Environment (PA 12): comply with national environmental law or international standards where national law is weak; identify environmental impacts and manage waste and water responsibly.
Ethical Business Behaviour (PA 13): no corruption, extortion, or bribery; accurate records; protection of personal information per privacy and security laws.
How BSCI Requirements Are Assessed
An amfori BSCI audit is made up of the 81 audit questions described above. During the audit, the auditor collects evidence from worker interviews, document reviews, and site tours, and answers each question "Yes," "No," "Partial," or "Not applicable" (a "Not applicable" answer has the same impact as "Yes"). The 20 crucial questions have a greater effect on the score of each Performance Area than normal questions.
Audits may be conducted on-site or off-site, and announced or unannounced, by amfori or by third parties qualified by amfori (such as auditing companies and quality partners).
The BSCI Rating System (A–E)
The ratings of each Performance Area are combined into an overall BSCI audit rating from A to E. amfori publishes the rating rules, but the exact algorithm that converts 81 question answers into each PA rating is not publicly available, to prevent "gaming" of the system.
| Overall Rating | Rule |
|---|---|
| A (very good) | Minimum 7 PAs rated A and no PA rated C, D, or E |
| B | Maximum 3 PAs rated C and no PA rated D, or E |
| C | Maximum 2 PAs rated D and no PA rated E |
| D | Maximum 6 PAs rated E |
| E (unacceptable) | Maximum 7 PAs rated E |
The rating determines the re-audit cycle. A site rated A or B is re-audited after two years; a site rated C or below is re-audited after one year, and a follow-up audit is required to verify corrective action.
Who Must Comply with BSCI Requirements?
amfori members and their business partners — including upstream and downstream producers, intermediaries, and those involved in worker recruitment — can become signatories of the amfori BSCI Code of Conduct. In practice, a manufacturing site is drawn into BSCI compliance when an amfori member (a brand or retailer) includes it in monitoring activities. The commitment then cascades through the supply chain via the Social Management System and Cascade Effect principle (PA 1).
How to Meet BSCI Requirements: Step-by-Step
The path to a strong BSCI rating follows a due-diligence cycle rather than a one-off test. The typical steps are:
Step 1: Become a Signatory
A site engages with BSCI either as an amfori member or, far more commonly, as a business partner invited by an amfori member. Endorse the Code of Conduct in writing.
Step 2: Map and Cascade
Map the supply chain and cascade the Code to business partners and relevant stakeholders, including intermediaries in the recruitment process.
Step 3: Conduct a Gap Analysis
Compare current practices against the 13 Performance Areas. Pay special attention to the crucial questions and to the numeric thresholds for working hours, wages, and child labour.
Step 4: Build the Management System
Adopt a written human-rights policy approved at senior level, appoint a senior manager responsible for the Code, and embed the expectations in company culture and purchasing practices.
Step 5: Prepare Documentation
Maintain policies, employment contracts, wage and hour records, age-verification records, OHS training logs, and grievance-mechanism records. Keep the amfori Sustainability Platform information up to date.
Step 6: Engage an Approved Auditing Company
Audits are carried out by third parties qualified by amfori. The audit scope and quotation are arranged with the auditing company; fees are set by the auditing company, not by a fixed BSCI schedule.
Step 7: Undergo the Audit
The auditor gathers evidence through interviews, document review, and site tours, then scores the 81 questions. The site must grant full facility access and allow confidential worker interviews.
Step 8: Address Findings and Sustain the Rating
If the result is C or below, a Corrective Action Plan (CAP) and follow-up audit are required. A or B results are valid for the two-year re-audit cycle, with continuous improvement expected throughout.
BSCI and EU Regulations in 2026
amfori positions its solutions as a way to navigate EU instruments such as the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) with confidence, through guidance and tools aligned with global standards. For suppliers to European brands, meeting BSCI requirements is increasingly a practical building block for broader due-diligence compliance rather than a stand-alone obligation.
FAQ: BSCI Certification Requirements
The following are frequently asked questions about BSCI requirements. These questions are optimised to capture "People Also Ask" sections in search results.
Q: What is the difference between BSCI and a certificate?
A: BSCI is a social audit system managed by amfori, not a traditional certificate. The audit produces a rating from A (very good) to E (unacceptable) based on the amfori BSCI Code of Conduct. Members use that rating to decide on follow-up audits and continued sourcing.
Q: How many requirements are in a BSCI audit?
A: A BSCI audit is built from 81 audit questions organised into 13 Performance Areas, of which 20 are crucial questions that carry greater weight in scoring.
Q: What is the maximum working week under BSCI?
A: Workers must not be required to work more than 48 standard hours per week. Overtime is exceptional and voluntary, paid at a premium of at least 125%, and workers must receive at least one day off in every seven days.
Q: What is the minimum age for workers under BSCI?
A: The Code prohibits employing children below the minimum age of completion of compulsory schooling, which shall not be less than 15 years, unless the exceptions recognised by the ILO apply. Young workers receive special protection, including no night work.
Q: How long is a BSCI rating valid?
A: A site rated A or B is re-audited after two years; a site rated C or below is re-audited after one year, and a follow-up audit is required to verify corrective action. There is no single fixed "certificate expiry" date because BSCI reports a rating, not a pass/fail certificate.
Q: Are BSCI audits announced or unannounced?
A: Audits may be conducted on-site or off-site, and announced or unannounced, by amfori or by third parties qualified by amfori. The audited site must grant full facility access and allow confidential worker interviews.
Q: Does BSCI allow recruitment fees to be charged to workers?
A: No. Under the Employer Pays Principle (PA 11), no recruitment fees or costs may be charged to workers, workers' identity documents must not be retained, and workers must have freedom of movement and access to free, accurate information.
Q: How much does a BSCI audit cost?
A: amfori does not publish a fixed audit fee. Audits are performed by amfori-approved auditing companies, and the cost depends on the auditing company, site size, and audit scope. Suppliers should request a quotation directly from an approved auditing company.
Conclusion
BSCI requirements are anchored in the amfori BSCI Code of Conduct (version 2021) and expressed through 13 Performance Areas and 81 audit questions. Success depends less on memorising rules and more on building a genuine due-diligence management system — strong working-hours and wage practices, no child or forced labour, real worker involvement, and a safe, environmentally responsible workplace. A rating of A or B buys a two-year cycle; C or below triggers a follow-up. Treat BSCI as an ongoing compliance journey, not a one-time test.
If you need help mapping your supply chain, running a gap analysis, or preparing for an amfori BSCI audit, our team can support you end to end. Contact us for a free consultation.
References
amfori. (2021). amfori BSCI Code of Conduct. Avenue de Tervueren 270, 1150 Brussels, Belgium. (English version legally binding; 2024 brand realignment, content consistent with 2021.)
amfori. (December 2023). amfori BSCI audit rating overview. 81 audit questions, 20 crucial questions, 13 Performance Areas, A–E rating rules.
amfori. amfori official website — amfori BSCI solution, key numbers (2,400+ members, 58,000+ suppliers, 40,000+ audits/year, 15 local network representatives), CSRD and CSDDD navigation. Retrieved from amfori.org.
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