What is RBA?

RBA stands for Responsible Business Alliance. Its Code of Conduct succeeded the EICC Code of the Electronic Industry Citizenship Coalition.

The RBA Code establishes expectations for safe working conditions, respectful and fair treatment of workers, environmentally responsible operations and ethical business. It originated in the electronics industry and its supply chains and is also used in other industries.

The original electronics scope includes organisations involved in designing, marketing, manufacturing or supplying goods and services used to produce electronic products. A business may voluntarily adopt the Code and apply it to its supply chain and subcontractors, including providers of contract labour.

A company adopting the Code should confirm its commitment and actively pursue conformance with its requirements through an appropriate management system.

Participants should treat the Code as a supply-chain initiative. At a minimum, they should require their next-tier major suppliers to acknowledge and implement it.

Businesses must comply with applicable laws and regulations wherever they operate. The Code encourages practices that go beyond local legal requirements, drawing on internationally recognised standards to strengthen environmental and social responsibility and business ethics.

Consistent with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, the Code draws on international human-rights standards, including the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work and the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

RBA seeks regular stakeholder input as it develops and implements its Code.

The Code has five sections: A — Labor; B — Health and Safety; C — Environment; D — Ethics; and E — Management Systems, which support conformance with the other requirements.

RBA currently publishes Code version 8.0, effective from 1 January 2024. Older images and version-specific links below are clearly identified.

RBA Code of Conduct

History shown in the original diagram

Historical ITVC training diagram, covering Code versions through 7.0.

1.0 — 10/2004; 1.1 — 05/2005; 2.0 — 10/2005; 3.0 — 06/2009; 4.0 — 04/2012; 5.0 — 11/2014; 5.1 — 03/2015 (effective 01/01/2016); 6.0 — 01/2018; 7.0 — 01/2021.

The milestones above are transcribed from the original diagram. The image places the renaming note at January 2018; the official RBA history dates the organisational change from EICC to RBA to October 2017. Code version 8.0 took effect on 1 January 2024.

RBA — History

RBA Code requirements

The three original tables are retained as historical training references, not as a current checklist. Terminology and detailed requirements may differ from Code 8.0. Consult the current RBA Code when implementing requirements.

Original bilingual table: A — Labor and B — Health and Safety.

Original bilingual table: C — Environment and D — Ethics.

Original bilingual table: E — Management Systems.

RBA Code of Conduct — current version and translations

RBA Self-Assessment Questionnaire (SAQ)

The two SAQ templates below date from 2019 and are retained from the original article. Check the current templates and process required by RBA and the customer.

2019 Facility SAQ_Blank_for Posting Online

2019 Corporate SAQ_for posting Online

RBA consulting process

ITVC RBA consulting workflow. All nine steps are explained in English below.

Step 1 — Launch the project

ITVC helps the client establish an RBA team and define the responsibilities of each role. The client then holds a kickoff meeting to introduce the team to the consultants and agree communication channels for the project.

Step 2 — Review the current situation

ITVC reviews the factory against RBA requirements and prepares a report on the current social-responsibility management system. The review maps the system, identifies improvement needs and documents to develop, and leads to a detailed implementation plan.

Step 3 — Train personnel on awareness and interpretation of RBA requirements

Step 4 — Develop the documentation system

Documents and records to develop

• Labor documents — Section A
• Occupational health and safety documents — Section B
• Environmental documents — Section C
• Business ethics documents — Section D
• Management-system documents — Section E

Step 5 — Implement the RBA social-responsibility management system

Implement the planned RBA management processes.

Train all personnel on relevant policies, procedures and good practices for social-responsibility conformance.

Communication

• Labor and human-rights issues
• Company policies on working hours, child labour, remuneration and the working environment
• Feedback and grievance channels
• Trade-union activities
• Achievements in operations and social-responsibility performance
• Social initiatives such as charitable programmes and support for people in need
• Sports and team activities

Step 6 — Review conformance

Train personnel in VAP assessment methods and requirements.

Conduct an internal readiness assessment using applicable RBA guidance, covering labour, the environment, occupational health and safety, and business ethics. Interview workers privately and collect objective evidence. Document the results and request corrective action for identified non-conformances. This internal preparation is separate from an independent VAP assessment.

The RBA team reviews each corrective action request and implements actions to address the non-conformance. Record the actions taken and evidence of completion.

Step 7 — Management review of system effectiveness and efficiency

After the system is established and implemented, management reviews its effectiveness and efficiency. Record management decisions in the review report and implement the agreed actions.

Step 8 — Customer or third-party assessment and corrective action

Depending on the project and customer requirements, the company undergoes a customer or independent third-party assessment. Corrective-action deadlines depend on the type and severity of findings and the applicable programme; there is no single 30–60 day deadline for every finding. ITVC supports the company in preparing evidence and closing corrective action requests. Assessment results are determined by the responsible assessment body.

Step 9 — Maintain RBA conformance throughout the system

After implementing the RBA management system, the team must conduct regular checks to maintain effective conformance across the company.

RBA — Validated Assessment Program

Documents and related articles

Some links refer to historical documents or projects, including EICC and RBA 7.0. Downloaded files retain their original language.

RBA — Current Code download and language versions

• RBA consulting and training
• RBA audit partners
• Validated Assessment Program (VAP)
• Download RBA Code of Conduct 7.0 (effective January 2021) — Vietnamese
• RBA consulting at Fujikin Vietnam
• RBA consulting at Thien Quang Electronics JSC
• RBA consulting at Ethertronics Vina 2 Co., Ltd.
• RBA Code of Conduct consulting at Sanico Vietnam Co., Ltd.
• RBA Code of Conduct consulting at Wonjin Vina Co., Ltd.
• RBA self audit checklist
• Download RBA Code of Conduct
• EICC becomes RBA — the Responsible Business Alliance
• Download EICC-VAP Audit Operations Manual v5.1.1
• Download EICC-VAP-Audit Operations Manual v5 1 Code Interpretation Guidance
• EICC consulting at MCNex Vina Co., Ltd.
• EICC consulting at Jang Won Tech Vina
• EICC consulting at Youngbo Vina
• EICC consulting at Dream Plastic Co., Ltd.
• EICC consulting at Jahwa Vina
• EICC consulting — Part A: Labor
• EICC consulting — Part B: Health and Safety
• EICC consulting — Part C: Environment
• EICC consulting — Part D: Ethics
• EICC consulting — Part E: Management Systems
• Training on interpreting and implementing the EICC Code of Conduct in an enterprise