BSCI Audit in Turkey: Checklist, Ratings and How It Differs From SMETA

How does a BSCI audit work? Step by step

The process has seven steps: it starts with the buyer's request and continues with corrective actions tracked on the platform.

Sources: amfori support pages and the TÜV NORD CERT process description (September 2023 revision).

On site, the auditor collects three kinds of evidence: documents, observation and worker interviews. At least one management representative and one worker representative attend the opening and closing meetings, and the findings report is signed by the auditor, management and the worker representative. The signature is not acceptance of the findings but confirmation that the audit was carried out without irregularity (TÜV NORD CERT). Since September 1, 2024, amfori has accepted only requests for semi-announced and fully unannounced BSCI audits (amfori announcement, 2024); in a semi-announced audit the plan shows only a time window, and in an unannounced audit the plan is delivered on the first audit day (TÜV NORD CERT). Get the type that will apply from your buyer in writing; because you cannot know the exact day in advance, plan preparation as a standing routine.

The 13 BSCI performance areas: what does an audit check?

A full BSCI audit assesses a site in 13 performance areas, from pay and working hours to health and safety, child labor and subcontractor management.

amfori does not publish numerical scoring values; the details are in Part II of its System Manual and require member login. The "records to prepare" column is a Tekstil Rehberi suggestion, not amfori's official list, and the area names are as listed by Sioen, an amfori member.

The laws are 4857 (labor), 5510 (social insurance), 6331 (occupational health and safety) and 6356 (trade unions), read on mevzuat.gov.tr as of October 16, 2026; for practice, consult a labor-law adviser and an occupational safety specialist.

Pay and working hours (areas 5–6)

The auditor checks whether payroll, timesheets, bank payments and social security (SGK) notifications agree with one another. An employer notifies the SGK of an insured worker before the worker starts work (Law 5510, Art. 8). Normal weekly working time is at most 45 hours (Law 4857, Art. 63); each hour above that is paid at a 50% premium or, if the worker asks, compensated with 1 hour 30 minutes of free time. Overtime needs the worker's consent and cannot exceed 270 hours a year (Art. 41). Weekly rest is at least 24 uninterrupted hours in a seven-day period (Art. 46). Before accepting a tight lead time, calculate capacity without overtime; if overtime is needed, schedule it with advance approval and a payment record (Tekstil Rehberi suggestion).

Health and safety (area 7)

According to amfori, critical questions on child labor, forced or bonded labor and occupational health and safety have the greatest effect on the rating (amfori support page). In preparation, the risk assessment (Law 6331, Art. 10), the emergency plan with training and drill records (Art. 11), accident records (Art. 14), health examinations (Art. 15) and OHS training (Art. 17) stand out.

Age and subcontractors (areas 1, 8 and 9)

Employing children who have not completed age 15 is prohibited; there are narrow exceptions, such as light work that does not hinder schooling for children who have completed age 14 and the compulsory primary-education age (Law 4857, Art. 71). Workers under 18 may not be employed at night in industrial work (Art. 73). Night means a period of at most 11 hours that starts no later than 8:00 p.m. and ends no earlier than 6:00 a.m. (Art. 69).

The first area covers not only your own management system but also how far it reaches subcontractors and suppliers. If you subcontract, notify the buyer in writing in advance, agree written rules and a contract with the subcontracting workshop, and keep the list current. Work made in a workshop the buyer does not know about can fall outside the social audit; our contract manufacturing guide explains this risk with SOMO (2015) as the source.

BSCI audit checklist: 30 days, 7 days and audit day

Preparation means making your records true and consistent with one another. Fake records, double books, coaching workers or hiding shifts on audit day are not on this list and are not recommended: the auditor weighs documents, observation and interviews together. For the buyer's side of document requests, see how to choose a CMT workshop in Turkey.

30 days before (even if no date has been announced)

1. Appoint a preparation lead; build a record inventory from the 13-area table and mark gaps.
2. Report worker numbers, shifts and subcontractor details accurately to the buyer and the platform.
3. Write and communicate policies on discrimination, complaints, child labor, hiring and overtime.
4. Complete the subcontractor list and the written rules agreed with each subcontractor.

7 days before

1. Pull samples of recent payroll, timesheets, bank payments and SGK records and match them against one another.
2. Check exits, extinguishers, first-aid supplies and the drill record; have the OHS training and health examination files ready.
3. Put the documents in one folder and decide who will show them to the auditor.

On audit day

1. A responsible manager and a worker representative should be present at the opening and closing meetings.
2. Set aside a free space for worker interviews; do not coach workers or interfere with interviews.
3. Note findings and any objections in writing at the closing meeting.

BSCI audit rating: A–E, follow-up audits and corrective actions

The result of a BSCI audit is a rating from A to E; A is highest and E lowest. The rating is calculated automatically in amfori's online system and is not under the auditor's control (TÜV NORD CERT). Each performance area also gets its own A–E grade.

According to the audit firms' process descriptions, what follows depends on the rating:

• A or B: You continue the improvement process yourself on the platform; the next full audit takes place after two years (TÜV NORD CERT; TÜV Rheinland).
• C, D or E: An improvement plan is drawn up within 60 days of the audit date (TÜV NORD CERT; QIMA, July 2025). A follow-up audit takes place at the earliest two and at the latest 12 months after the full audit and looks only at the areas that had findings; if it does not happen within 12 months, a new full audit is needed (TÜV NORD CERT).

The exact thresholds and timelines depend on amfori's current Audit Rating Guide and System Manual and may change; confirm the follow-up conditions for your rating in writing with your audit firm and your buyer.

Corrective action table (example row, illustrative and not real data):

SMETA (Sedex) audit: who conducts it, what it covers and how long it is valid

Who conducts a Sedex audit?

Sedex does not audit directly: SMETA audits are carried out only by the independent Affiliate Audit Companies (AACs) it approves, and only for Sedex members with an active platform account.

What does a SMETA audit check?

SMETA is a methodology created and managed by Sedex, which says it is a continuous-improvement methodology, not a certificate. It assesses a business against the ETI Base Code (nine articles), ILO conventions and local law. Every audit covers labor standards and health and safety, and a two-pillar audit also includes an environmental assessment. A four-pillar (4-Pillar) audit adds a second environmental module and business ethics, and according to Sedex around 70% of SMETA audits are 4-Pillar (Sedex, October 2026). The current version is SMETA 7.0; Sedex describes the new version as bringing workplace requirements, a management systems assessment and "Collaborative Action Required" findings.

How long is a SMETA audit valid?

According to Sedex's SMETA Minimum Requirements (version 1.2, April 2026), the validity period of a SMETA audit is 24 months; Sedex treats the information as up to date for that time. This is not a requirement to audit every two years: Sedex's summary of June 5, 2025 recommends yearly audits for high-risk suppliers and two-yearly audits for medium-risk sites, and leaves low-risk frequency to the buyer. Older reports stay visible on the platform.

What documents does a SMETA audit need?

As a Tekstil Rehberi suggestion (not Sedex's official list), prepare these records for a SMETA audit:

• Payroll, bank payments and social security (SGK) notifications
• Timesheets, entry-exit records and overtime approvals
• Written employment contracts and age verification records from hiring
• Risk assessment, emergency plan, OHS training and drill records
• Subcontractor list and the written rules agreed with each subcontractor
• Waste and chemical storage records and environmental permits relevant to the activity
• For a 4-Pillar audit, a business ethics (bribery, conflict of interest) policy as well

The current SMETA guidance is in Sedex's own documents; ask your audit firm for the document list in writing.

BSCI vs SMETA: what is the difference?

BSCI is a system used by amfori member buyers, built on 13 performance areas and giving an A–E rating; SMETA is an audit methodology that Sedex applies against the ETI Base Code, ILO conventions and local law. Your buyer decides which one is required, and neither is a certificate.

Does one replace the other? amfori's support page states that SMETA audits are not recognized by amfori BSCI and that participants are not advised to accept them (last modified March 3, 2022; confirm the current position with your buyer). Ask your buyer in writing: which program does it require, does it accept your existing report, which address will be audited, who pays, and how must subcontracting be reported? Other programs such as WRAP and SA8000 also exist; they are outside this guide.

Who conducts a BSCI audit, and what drives the cost?

How do you find a BSCI or SMETA audit firm?

BSCI audits are carried out by independent firms that are amfori auditing partners; amfori publishes their contacts on its website (amfori support page, July 2022). For SMETA, work only with firms on Sedex's approved AAC list, which can be filtered by country on Sedex's website. To find audit firms and preparation consultants in Turkey, see the Textile Compliance Consultants and Certification Bodies in Turkey category, and check that any firm you ask for a quote appears on the amfori or Sedex list (Tekstil Rehberi suggestion).

Who pays for the audit?

amfori does not set the audit fee: each audit firm quotes its own, and the cost varies with the length of the audit and the number of workers interviewed (amfori support page). For SMETA, a buyer, a supplier or the site itself can request and pay for the audit (Sedex, April 2026). Ask at least two approved firms for written quotes and settle with your buyer in writing who will pay (Tekstil Rehberi suggestion).

Is BSCI a certification? Is "BSCI certified" correct?

No; neither amfori nor Sedex issues a certificate. The correct wording names the audit together with its date and the audited address: for BSCI, "amfori BSCI audit" plus the A–E rating; for SMETA, the audit type, such as "SMETA 4-Pillar audit". The address in the report should be the address where your order will be produced. Certificates such as OEKO-TEX and GOTS relate to product and material claims, while BSCI and SMETA look at working conditions at the site; see the textile certifications guide for the distinction. Product quality is checked by a separate process such as AQL inspection. If you are a buyer, look for workshops that can show a social audit report in the CMT sewing category and ask for the report directly; for vetting Turkish suppliers in general, see clothing manufacturers in Turkey.