Certification Pathways

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The Fairwork AI Supply Chain Certification provides organisations with a structured process to identify risks, strengthen accountability, and improve working conditions across their AI supply chains. The certification pathway sets out the key steps from initial engagement to verified accreditation, offering companies a transparent roadmap to demonstrate their commitment to fair and ethical practices. By following this pathway, organisations can move beyond compliance and towards meaningful, measurable change in how AI work is governed.

Pathways

Discovery & Risk Assessment

Map your supply chain. Understand your risks. Set a strong foundation.

In this first phase, we work closely with your team to:

Identify your data supply chain actors (e.g. annotation providers, platforms, BPO vendors)
Review existing supplier contracts, codes of conduct, and sourcing practices
Conduct interviews with relevant stakeholders and frontline workers
Perform a detailed audit based on the Fairwork Principles

This phase ends with a comprehensive Risk Assessment Report outlining key issues, vulnerabilities, and opportunities for improvement.

Action Planning

Co-develop a strategy for change, based on evidence and context.

With audit findings in hand, we help you:

Prioritize risks by severity and feasibility
Co-design a Remediation Roadmap with clear actions and success metrics
Establish accountability structures across procurement, HR, or operations
Define the role of suppliers and partners in improvement efforts

We don’t just hand over a report—we work with you to make it actionable and aligned to your internal goals.

Implementation & Training

Build capacity across your teams and suppliers.

In this phase, we support your organization in turning plans into impact:

Develop supplier engagement and ethical sourcing protocols
Train procurement teams, vendor managers, and suppliers on Fairwork standards
Support integration of labour protections into audits, RFPs, or monitoring workflows
Help track implementation progress across supply chain partners

We act as thought partners and facilitators—ensuring fair labor practices aren’t just set, but sustained.

Monitoring & Reporting

Track your progress. Strengthen your practices. Earn certification.

Fairwork conducts a follow-up evaluation typically 12–24 months after initial implementation. We:
Assess progress on the agreed remediation roadmap
Re-engage with workers and stakeholders
Evaluate changes to contracts, wages, and working conditions
Produce a transparent, research-backed report documenting outcomes

Audit-Only vs. Full Certification

Option 1: Audit-only

A one-time assessment of labour standards in the lead company’s AI supply chain.

Discovery: Fairwork collaborates with the lead firm to understand its supply chain structure, labour policies, and ethical commitments through discovery & risk assessment.

Risk Assessment: Fairwork conducts an in-depth audit of the supply chain, evaluating compliance with Fairwork Principles and identifying potential labour risks.

Action Planning: Lead firm receives a detailed report by Fairwork that outlines findings, risk areas, and recommendations for improvement to enhance labour conditions across their supply chains.

Option 2: Fairwork Certified

A structured process and certification ensuring continuous improvement in lead company’s AI supply chain.

Discovery: Fairwork collaborates with the lead firm to align supplier agreements, codes of conduct, contracts, and internal audits. Upon completion, the firm receives Fairwork Onboard certification.

Risk Assessment: Fairwork conducts a comprehensive audit of the supply chain to assess compliance with Fairwork Principles.

Action Planning: If gaps are found, Fairwork helps the firm develop a remediation plan to address supply chain challenges.

Implementation & Training: Fairwork supports the lead firm and suppliers in executing remediation efforts and provides training to ensure compliance with labour standards.

Monitoring & Reporting: Mandatory follow-up audits (1–2 years post-certification) assess progress on remediation and adherence to Fairwork standards.

Certification Renewal & Compliance: Firms meeting expectations after follow-up audits receive Fairwork Endorsed certification and can continue their Fairwork affiliation.

Certification vs. Audit-Only: What’s the Difference?

Want a lighter engagement or a benchmarking snapshot? You can opt for Audit-Only, which includes Phases 1 & 2 (Discovery + Action Planning).

Companies aiming for long-term change and public recognition pursue Full Certification, which spans all four phases.

Read our cheat sheet to learn more

Outcomes

What you gain from engaging with Fairwork—whether through an audit or full certification.

What You Walk Away With

Whether your company chooses the audit-only pathway or pursues full certification, Fairwork provides meaningful outcomes you can put to work—internally and externally.

Trusted Evaluation & Risk Report

At the end of the Discovery & Risk Assessment phase, all participating companies receive a detailed evaluation report. This includes:

A summary of working conditions across your AI supply chain
Identified risks and gaps tied to the Fairwork Principles
Benchmarking insights based on Fairwork’s global evaluations
Actionable recommendations for remediation and improvement

This report is confidential and designed to support both internal due diligence and regulatory readiness (e.g. for CS3D compliance efforts). Clients will have the liberty to decide on how they would like to publicize their reports and audit outcomes, in collaboration with Fairwork.

Fairwork Certification Badges:

Companies that pursue the full certification path—not just the audit—receive official recognition through Fairwork’s certification badges.

These are more than just logos: they are signals of your commitment to fair labour practices in AI supply chains and your willingness to improve working conditions over time.

Fairwork offers two distinct badges based on your stage in the process:

Fairwork Onboard

Awarded after completing Discovery & Risk Assessment + Action Planning.

This badge signals your initial alignment with Fairwork Principles and your proactive steps toward ethical supply chain practices.

Use it to:

Show early commitment to fair labour
Communicate progress to clients and stakeholders
Demonstrate regulatory and ESG preparedness

Fairwork Endorsed

Endorsed

Awarded after completing all 4 phases, including follow-up audits.

This badge confirms that your organization has taken measurable action to improve labour conditions and continues to meet Fairwork expectations.

Use it to:

Showcase continuous, committed leadership in responsible AI
Strengthen ESG and supplier credibility
Reinforce compliance with emerging regulations

How to Use the Badges

All certified organizations receive:

Badge files in multiple formats (for digital and print use)
Usage guidelines (e.g. how to display on your website, proposals, or ESG reports)
Messaging templates for press releases or stakeholder updates (upon request)
Optional: joint announcement or case feature on the Fairwork website

Badge use is governed by Fairwork’s Certification Agreement. Misuse or failure to meet follow-up standards may result in suspension or revocation.

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