Social compliance audit scheduling: SMETA and ethical trade audits
What makes social and ethical trade audits hard to schedule: announced, semi-announced and unannounced visits, auditor registration, language and interview needs, and how audit firms plan them at scale.
Social compliance audits such as SMETA are scheduled around three things: the announcement type (announced, semi-announced within an agreed window, or unannounced), auditors who hold the required social-audit registration and speak the workers' language, and the site's production calendar. Scheduling software should hold the window and announcement type as rules and keep unannounced dates hidden from the site. ScheduleAI by Checkfirst plans audits against windows, auditor qualifications and languages; check your scheme's current rules for the detail.
Key takeaways
- Announcement type changes what the site may know and when.
- Worker interviews make language a hard rule.
- A semi-announced audit is a window, not a date.
- Peak production and low-season weeks change what an audit can see.
How do the announcement types differ?
| Type | What the site knows | Planning effect |
|---|---|---|
| Announced | The exact date | Agree the date with the site |
| Semi-announced | A window, not the day | Plan any day in the window; keep the day confidential |
| Unannounced | Nothing in advance | Keep the date hidden; plan around blackout days |
What does a semi-announced window look like?
- 1Audit day chosen by the planner; site not told
- 2Backup day if the auditor is unavailable
- 3Last possible day: flagged
Who can be assigned?
- ✓Holds the social-audit registration your scheme requires.
- ✓Speaks the workers' language, or a qualified interpreter is booked.
- ✓No conflict of interest with the site or its buyer.
- ✓Team make-up suits confidential worker interviews.
- ✓Free on any day in the window, not just one.
Related reading
Unannounced rules in food schemes follow a similar pattern: see unannounced audit scheduling. For windows generally see the audit scheduling glossary.
ScheduleAI by Checkfirst holds the audit window, auditor qualifications and languages as rules, plans a day inside the window, and re-plans to a backup day if an auditor drops out. Planners approve every booking.
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What is a semi-announced audit?
An audit where the site agrees a window but is not told the exact day.
Why does language matter in social audits?
Auditors interview workers confidentially, so they must speak the workers' language or work with a qualified interpreter.
Can software keep an unannounced date hidden?
Yes. The date is planned internally and not sent to the site.