What developed-market retailers actually require from Thai factories on labour, safety and ethics — audit types, common findings and how to close them.

Thai Supplier Social Audits: SMETA and BSCI

If you sell into UK, EU, US or Japanese retail, your Thai factory will be audited on how it treats people, not only on how it makes parts. Buyers who plan for this pass on the first attempt; buyers who discover it during onboarding lose a season.

The audit landscape

Scheme	Owner	Typical buyer	Focus
SMETA	Sedex	UK and EU retail	Labour, health and safety, environment, business ethics
amfori BSCI	amfori	EU retail and brands	Social performance rating A-E
SA8000	SAI	Certification-driven buyers	Certifiable management system
WRAP	WRAP	Apparel and textiles	Facility certification
Customer-specific	Retailer	Large accounts	Own code of conduct

Most Thai export factories are familiar with SMETA and BSCI. Smaller sub-assembly and tier-2 shops often are not — which is where programmes usually fail.

Findings we see most often in Thailand

Working hours records. Overtime beyond legal limits during peak, or time records that do not reconcile with payroll.
Migrant worker documentation. Work permits, contracts in the worker's language, and no retention of original documents.
Recruitment fees. Any fee charged to the worker is a zero-tolerance issue for most codes.
Machine guarding and PPE. Simple, cheap to fix, and a repeat finding.
Chemical management. Missing safety data sheets, unlabelled decanted containers, no secondary containment.
Emergency preparedness. Blocked exits, expired extinguishers, no drill records.

A realistic preparation sequence

Week 1-2: gap assessment against the specific code your buyer uses.
Week 3-6: fix documentation — payroll, hours, contracts, permits, SDS files.
Week 5-8: physical remediation — guarding, exits, signage, chemical stores.
Week 8-10: internal mock audit, ideally by someone who has run real ones.
Week 10-12: book the announced audit; keep a 90-day corrective action window in reserve.

Governance that keeps it passing

An audit is a snapshot. What holds the score is a monthly routine: hours review, a grievance channel that is actually used, a corrective action log with owners and dates, and an annual re-audit budget. Ask for the audit report and the CAPA log — not just the certificate.

Tier-2 is the real exposure

CSDDD-style due diligence and most retailer codes now reach beyond the assembly plant. Map your sub-assembly, plating, and packaging suppliers, and audit at least the ones handling regulated processes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a social audit legally required to import from Thailand?

Not by customs, but it is contractually required by most developed-market retailers and increasingly expected under EU due-diligence rules.

How long does a SMETA audit take?

Typically one to two auditor days for a mid-sized factory, plus a corrective action window of up to 90 days.

Who pays for the audit?

Usually the supplier, though large buyers sometimes fund the first audit to get a strategic factory onboard.

What happens if a zero-tolerance finding appears?

Production is normally suspended until remediation is verified. Plan an alternative source before that risk materialises.