Social and labor compliance is a term that refers to compliance with regulations and rules related to labor and social aspects within an organization. In other words, it is about ensuring that the company complies with all labor-related laws and ethical standards, as well as the social responsibilities it has toward its employees and the community in general.
To achieve this, management systems for compliance are needed, such as the UNE Standard 19604. In this post, we explain the characteristics of this standard, its benefits, and how it is applied. Keep reading!
How and why did the UNE 19604 Standard emerge?
The labor world is becoming increasingly complex and regulated. In this context, companies face significant challenges to maintain a safe and stable work environment. The UNE 19604 Standard Social and Labor Compliance Management Systems. Requirements with guidance for use emerged as a response to this need.
The UNE 19604 Standard was developed by the Spanish Association for Standardization through a collaborative process that lasted nearly two years. During this time, a variety of stakeholder groups participated to ensure that the standard reflected a range of perspectives and experiences, which in turn contributed to its relevance and effectiveness.
Finally, the standard was published on July 26, 2023 to ensure safety and stability at work and to promote the adoption of good labor practices. Since then, it has served as an important tool for companies seeking to ensure compliance with labor regulations.
Characteristics of the UNE 19604 Standard
So, what makes the UNE 19604 Standard unique in Spain? Here’s what you need to know:
- Clear objective: its purpose is to encourage and promote a positive compliance culture in the labor and social fields within organizations.
- Requirements and recommendations: it establishes both the essential requirements and recommendations for the effective implementation of a social and labor compliance management system.
- Universal applicability: it applies to all types of organizations, regardless of their size, nature, or sector of activity.
- Defined areas of application: it addresses various aspects such as constitutional rights in the workplace, individual and collective labor relations, social protection, and any other social and labor obligations the organization commits to fulfilling.
- Specific exclusions: although broad in scope, the standard explicitly excludes obligations related to occupational risk prevention.
- Guided development and implementation: it provides detailed guidelines to establish, develop, implement, evaluate, maintain, and effectively improve a social and labor compliance management system within the organization.
Benefits of implementing the social and labor compliance management system standard
As mentioned earlier, since its implementation, the UNE 19604 Standard has become a useful tool for both companies and their employees. Here are the benefits:
- Improved legal compliance: ensures compliance with social and labor laws and regulations, reducing the risk of sanctions and litigation.
- Enhanced reputation: strengthens the company's image as an employer committed to respecting labor and social rights.
- Increased trust: fosters a more transparent and ethical work environment, promoting employee trust and loyalty.
- Risk reduction: minimizes risks associated with non-compliance with labor regulations, thus protecting the company’s assets and reputation.
- Auditing and certification: the UNE 19604 standard is subject to third-party audits and certifications, which help improve the organization’s reputation compared to competitors, strengthen stakeholder trust, and promote a corporate culture based on compliance and transparency.
How is the UNE 19604 Standard applied?
Finally, it is important to know that to apply the UNE 19604 Standard, several elements must be fulfilled:
- Risk identification: the organization must create a risk map that detects potential violations of labor regulations and commitments. This ensures proactive management of such risks.
- Control design: based on the risk map, the organization must design controls adapted to its regulatory context, ensuring an effective response to identified potential vulnerabilities.
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