A Sedex jewellery factory or a BSCI jewellery factory has been assessed for working conditions, not for product quality or chemical safety. These are social audit schemes, and large retailers sometimes ask for them from suppliers. They tell you how people are treated at work, nothing more.
Most small Rajkot workshops have neither. That does not mean they are unethical, but if your customer demands a scheme, you need to know before you place orders.
What is the difference between Sedex and BSCI?
Sedex is a platform where companies share ethical trade data. SMETA is the audit method commonly used on it, covering labour standards, health and safety, and, in a wider version, environment and business ethics. It is not a certification.
BSCI is run by amfori, a business association, and uses its own code of conduct and audit platform. As of October 2026, amfori states on its support site that it does not recognise SMETA audits within its system. A retailer that asks for one will usually not accept the other, so ask which they want.
What does an audit not cover?
Neither scheme checks nickel release, lead content, plating thickness or whether samples match production. They also assess one site at one time. For quality and chemical safety, you still need a factory audit that covers production and product tests.
What should you ask a factory that claims one?
Do not accept a logo on a website. Ask for:
- The full audit report or a sharing link, not just a summary.
- The audit date, the site address audited and the auditing body.
- Open corrective actions and their deadlines.
- Confirmation that the audited site is the one making your goods, not a different unit or a subcontractor.
Do small makers need a scheme?
Only if your customers require it. For a boutique or online store, a clear check of the workshop, fair conditions and no child labour is often enough. Our guide to manufacturer certifications in India explains which certificates matter and which are optional. We describe these schemes, but do not endorse any of them.
What does an audit cost and who pays?
Costs depend on the scheme, the auditor and the size of the site, and they are normally paid for by the factory or the buyer, depending on the arrangement. We do not quote a figure, because it varies. Ask the scheme operator or an accredited audit firm.
Many small jewellery workshops do not want to pay for an audit unless an order justifies it. If you need one, say so before you place the order, and agree who pays and who keeps the report. A report belongs to the audited site, and it is shared at their choice.
Remember that an audit is a snapshot. Check the date, and ask whether any follow-up visit was made. Our factory visits can fill the gap with a direct look at conditions on the day.
Next step
If a retailer has asked you for a social audit, we can find workshops that already hold the one you need and check the report is current. Book a free sourcing review and tell us what your customer requires.