Code of Ethics

Individual Members

All members of the Institute shall undertake:

  • To endeavour constantly to achieve the highest possible quality in respect of accuracy of rendering, terminological correctness, language and style
  • To accept full responsibility for their translations and to bring unresolved problems to the attention of their clients/employers
  • To accept no work that is beyond them (with regard to deadline and knowledge of   source language, target language and subject), except with the knowledge of their clients/employers, and to keep to agreed deadlines and forms of delivery
  • Constantly to pursue self-improvement in order to improve the quality of their work
  • To share their professional knowledge with other members, but to maintain a relationship of trust with their clients/employers and to treat all information that comes to their attention in the course of their work as confidential
  • Not to accept any work that, in their opinion, is intended for unlawful or dishonest purposes or is contrary to the public interest
  •  To be guided in negotiating remuneration by the principle of equitability and fairness
  • To respect all rights of the author and the client/employer, and specifically copyright
  • Always to uphold the highest ethical and moral standards in their dealings with their clients/employers and in the practice of their occupation as translator
  • To take part in the activities of the Institute and always to conduct themselves in such a way that their conduct and the quality of their work will be to the credit of the Institute and translation as an occupation

Corporate & Language Office Members

All Language Agency and Corporate Members of the Institute agree:

  • Only to undertake assignments that they are competent to fulfil
  • Not to accept any work that, in their opinion, is intended for unlawful or dishonest purposes or is contrary to the public interest
  • To be fair in all their dealings with clients, subcontractors, employees, other language professionals, fellow members and the public in order to establish and maintain good working relationships
  • Not to make any unsupported or misleading claims in any publication, marketing or promotional material, documentation or elsewhere
  • To treat all material and/or information received from clients in the course of business as highly confidential and not to use any such information for personal or financial gain.
  • To ensure that each of their employees and subcontractors signs and upholds a non-disclosure agreement
  • To adhere to all the terms of any service agreements with clients, including service to be provided, special instructions, cost and deadlines; should it become impossible to observe such an agreement for any reason whatsoever, the client shall be consulted at the earliest opportunity concerning a solution or alternative course of action
  • To be guided in negotiating remuneration by the principle of equitability and fairness
  • To enter into and observe service agreements with their freelance language workers, and to state their expectations clearly prior to contracting such freelancers for any work
  • To use only competent, experienced language workers qualified to carry out an assignment successfully
  • To be bound by an arbitration process established by SATI in the event of a dispute between themselves and any clients, employees, subcontractors or fellow members
  • Always to uphold the highest ethical and moral standards in their dealings with their clients, employees and subcontractors and in the exercise of the language practice occupation
  • To take part in the activities of the Institute and always to conduct themselves in such a way that their conduct and the quality of their work will be to the credit of the Institute and language practice as an occupation