{"id":12069,"date":"2025-04-25T07:27:30","date_gmt":"2025-04-25T07:27:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/devarchive.siza.co.za\/?page_id=12069"},"modified":"2025-05-05T00:43:44","modified_gmt":"2025-05-05T00:43:44","slug":"audit-disputes-process","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/devarchive.siza.co.za\/?page_id=12069","title":{"rendered":"Audit Disputes Process"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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In alignment with SIZA\u2019s commitment to supporting businesses during third-party audits, an independent dispute procedure is available to ensure that suppliers have the opportunity to raise concerns when they disagree with audit findings. This dispute process is independent from the grievance procedure and focuses on legal interpretations and compliance matters identified during social and environmental audits.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Auditors are not permitted to be influenced or coerced during the audit process, nor are they allowed to alter findings based on corrections made on the day of the audit. Therefore, this dispute procedure also protects auditors in situations where differing views exist regarding the implementation of the SIZA Standard or relevant legal requirements. It provides all parties involved in the audit with a fair and transparent opportunity to assess the legal grounds and application behind any disputed findings.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

It is important to note that SIZA can only become involved in the audit process once a formal dispute has been submitted in writing via the MySIZA Platform. From that point onward, SIZA acts as an independent facilitator, ensuring a fair and objective review of all perspectives to reach a balanced and legally sound outcome.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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How does the procedure work? <\/span><\/span><\/h3><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Dispute Submission:<\/span><\/span><\/h3><\/span><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\u202f<\/span>Once the supplier <\/span>submits<\/span> a dispute via the <\/span>MySIZA<\/span> Data Platform, SIZA compiles an anonymous case study based on the non-compliance raised. All references to the business name and audit team are removed, and only factual evidence is included<\/span> to ensure anonymity.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Review by Expert Group:\u202f<\/span><\/span><\/h3><\/span><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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The anonymi<\/span>s<\/span>ed case study<\/span> and<\/span> the supporting evidence and justification provided by the auditee<\/span> are<\/span> submitted<\/span> to the SIZA Audit Expert Group. This group <\/span>co<\/span>mprises<\/span> independent specialists in relevant fields <\/span>and the value chain, <\/span>such as labour and environmental law, human resources, social responsibility, and environmental practices. Each expert independently reviews the case and <\/span>submits<\/span> individual feedback to SIZA, without visibility of the opinions of other members to ensure impartiality. The Expert Group <\/span>operates<\/span> online, and members <\/span>remain<\/span> anonymous to one another to avoid any potential influence or collaboration.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Opinion Compilation:\u202f<\/span><\/span><\/h3><\/span><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Once all input is received, <\/span>SIZA compiles the majority opinion of the Expert Group <\/span>to <\/span>communicate<\/span> it to the audit firm.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Recommendation to Audit Firm:\u202f<\/span><\/span><\/h3><\/span><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Recommendation to Audit Firm:<\/span><\/span>\u202f<\/span>The majority opinion is <\/span>than <\/span>formally recommended to the audit firm<\/span> for consideration regarding whether the original finding or risk rating should be upheld, amended, or removed<\/span>.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Audit Amendment Process:\u202f<\/span><\/span><\/h3><\/span><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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If the audit firm accepts the recommendation and approves a change<\/span> once they have completed their internal review <\/span>processes,\u00a0<\/span> the<\/span> necessary amendments <\/span>can be<\/span> made. SIZA updates the audit status to “In Progress,” allowing the auditor to revise the audit accordingly and <\/span>submit<\/span> it for final review and approval<\/span> to the audit firm reviewer<\/span>.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Escalation in Complex Cases:\u202f<\/span><\/span><\/h3><\/span><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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In cases where the Audit Expert Group cannot reach a consensus, SIZA seeks legal guidance from external counsel and, when necessary, consults with the Department of Employment and Labour to ensure a legally sound resolution.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Final Outcome and Transparency:\u202f<\/span><\/span><\/h3><\/span><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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The dispute<\/span> and<\/span> outcome<\/span> are<\/span> uploaded to the supplier\u2019s profile on the <\/span>MySIZA<\/span> Data Platform and communicated via email.<\/span> Once this is completed, SIZA closes the audit dispute on the platform.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In alignment with SIZA\u2019s commitment to supporting businesses during third-party audits, an independent dispute procedure is available to ensure that suppliers have the opportunity to raise concerns when they disagree with audit findings. This dispute process is independent from the grievance procedure and focuses on legal interpretations and compliance matters identified during social and environmental… Continue reading Audit Disputes Process<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-12069","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/devarchive.siza.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/12069","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/devarchive.siza.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/devarchive.siza.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/devarchive.siza.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/devarchive.siza.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=12069"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/devarchive.siza.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/12069\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12544,"href":"https:\/\/devarchive.siza.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/12069\/revisions\/12544"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/devarchive.siza.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=12069"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}