Latest news with #CertisCisco
Straits Times
5 days ago
- Straits Times
Record 875 awards given out at ceremony to recognise professionalism of security officers
Security Supervisor Vincent Ong (left) and Certis Cisco Staff Sergeant Stacia Lim were among those awarded on July 24. SINGAPORE – The security landscape in Singapore has undergone significant changes, and it will continue to evolve, said Mr Shawn Huang, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Manpower. He was speaking at the Security Association Singapore (SAS) 11th annual Security Officers' Day Awards 2025 where the best in the industry are recognised for their professionalism. Said Mr Huang at the ceremony, held at Temasek Polytechnic on July 24: 'To stay ahead, we must continue to embrace innovation boldly. Technologies like integrated sensors, robotics, and smart surveillance are no longer just futuristic concepts, they are already transforming how security operations are delivered today.' To this aim, the Government has worked closely with the industry to develop and refresh the Security Industry Transformation Map, Mr Huang said, encouraging security agencies to harness technology to boost productivity, enhance security outcomes, and add value to security officers' careers. One of the recipients of the Job Redesign Award, Senior Security Supervisor Muhammad Iskandar Abdullah, was an example of how officers can take on new functions or to add value to the roles of others by the use of technology. Said Mr Huang: 'Officer Iskandar incorporated centralised live monitoring and virtual patrols that allow officers to supervise multiple sites in real time, thereby increasing site surveillance coverage and enabling immediate incident escalation. 'He also initiated training programmes to equip other officers with digital skills, empowering them to adapt and excel in an increasingly digital workplace.' Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Asia Live: People evacuated from border regions amid deadly Thailand-Cambodia clash Asia 11 Thai civilians killed as Thai and Cambodian militaries clash at disputed border: Reports Singapore Khatib Camp to make way for housing, with its functions moving to Amoy Quee Camp Singapore First BTO flats in Greater Southern Waterfront, Mount Pleasant to go on sale in October Singapore Primary 1 registration: 29 schools to conduct ballot in Phase 2B Asia 'Vampire coach': Coercive blood sampling in school casts spotlight on Taiwan's culture of obedience Singapore 1,300 names, addresses of traffic offenders published online; police investigating Singapore Boy, 15, charged after being caught with vapes 5 times; ordered to stay 2 years in S'pore Boys' Home The award ceremony saw a record 875 awards presented to recipients in categories such as the Security Officers of the Year, SAS President's Medal of Professionalism, USE (Union of Security Employees) Outstanding Security Officers Award, Job Redesign Awards, Auxiliary Police Officers of the Year and the Outstanding Auxiliary Police Officers Award. The ceremony, co-organised by Temasek Polytechnic Security Industry Institute, is a reflection of how 'SAS has stood with security officers, the guardians who work in the shadows... so Singapore can thrive', said Mr Kelvin Goh, president of SAS. While security officers are now the highest paid workers across all Progressive Wage Model (PWM) sectors, Mr Goh acknowledged that work hours remain long for them and that there is a manpower shortage for officers . 'While cutting shift durations to eight hours is very complex and difficult to achieve, our priority is clear. We want to replace the 26 days work in a month to something lesser,' said Mr Goh . He added that employers could consider giving more days off to security officers based on their length of service. Such a move would require support from security employers and clients, who would have to weigh cost factors and manpower needs. Security supervisor Vincent Ong from Metropolis Security Systems, was a recipient of the Security Officer of the Year 2025 award, together with five other winners. Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Manpower Shawn Huang speaking at the Security Officers Day Awards 2025 at Temasek Polytechnic on July 24. ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI He was lauded for his response during a fire in the basement carpark of a condominium in August 2024. The 64-year-old officer had made his way through thick smoke and heat to help fight the fire with an extinguisher and prevent it from spreading to other vehicles, while at the same time alerting his colleagues. For his quick and brave action, Mr Ong was also awarded the SCDF Community Responder Award in September 2024. Mr Ong added that being a security officer today is different from the past as it requires technical knowledge, professionalism and an understanding of the law. 'I would say you have to keep cool, you need to know how to deal (with people), and you need to know the law,' he added. One of the six awards for the Auxiliary Police Officer of the Year 2025 went to Staff Sergeant Stacia Lim, 30, from Certis Cisco Aviation Security. She had helped diffused a situation involving a man who was behaving erratically in the middle of the road at the arrival drop off point at Changi Airport T4 on Oct 30, 2024. Said Staff SGT Lim: 'It was alarming. We felt that he's going to cause danger to others and himself. When the vehicles were coming out from the carpark, he charged towards them.' Acting swiftly, she had her colleagues managed to detain the man with a flexi-cuff, as he continued to struggle even after he fell on the ground. Said Staff SGT Lim: 'I was very concerned for the safety of everyone in the vicinity – the offender, other members of the public, and my officers.'
Online Citizen
18-07-2025
- Online Citizen
Two foreign nationals charged in Singapore for allegedly attempting to bribe officers
SINGAPORE: Two foreign nationals were charged on 10 July 2025 for allegedly offering bribes to enforcement officers in separate incidents. Krishnan Ramakrishnan, a 30-year-old Indian national, was charged in court for allegedly attempting to bribe two Certis Cisco auxiliary police officers (APOs) attached to the National Environment Agency (NEA). On 18 April 2025, Krishnan allegedly offered a bribe of S$100 to officers Sri Suthan Sellah and Sugeerta B Kalaivanan as an inducement to waive enforcement action taken against him for littering. The officers rejected the bribe, and the matter was subsequently referred to the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB). Krishnan faces one charge punishable under Section 6(b) of the Prevention of Corruption Act. In a separate case, Xu Manye (许漫烨), a 37-year-old Chinese national, was also charged in court for allegedly offering bribes to two Land Transport Authority (LTA) officers. On 24 March 2025, Xu allegedly attempted to bribe officers Tay Boon Tat Francis and Lim Ghim Wee on three separate occasions, offering S$50 each time. The bribes were allegedly intended to secure favourable treatment in relation to the LTA's investigation into his personal mobility device (PMD), and to recover the impounded device, which had failed to meet safety standards during an inspection. The two LTA officers rejected the bribes, and the case was referred to the CPIB. Xu faces three charges punishable under Section 6(b) of the Prevention of Corruption Act. In a statement, CPIB said Singapore adopts a strict zero-tolerance approach towards corruption. Anyone convicted under Section 6 of the Act may be fined up to S$100,000, jailed for up to five years, or both.
Straits Times
06-07-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
askST Jobs: Facing intrusive demands from your employer? Here's what you can do
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Employers must act fairly and reasonably under the Employment Act and according to Manpower Ministry guidelines. Journalist Megan Wee offers practical answers to candid questions on navigating workplace challenges and getting ahead in your career. Get more tips by signing up to The Straits Times' Headstart newsletter. Q: The recent saga over Certis Cisco's medical leave policy raised questions about the boundaries employers should not cross with regard to the privacy of staff. How can employees judge if a boss' requests are reasonable, and what can they do if faced with intrusive demands? A: While employers have the right to manage absenteeism and maintain operational readiness – particularly in critical sectors like security – employees are not without recourse, says Mr Raunak Bhandari of the Institute for Human Resource Professionals. Employers must act fairly and reasonably under the Employment Act and according to Manpower Ministry guidelines, he adds. Mr Bhandari cites Certis Cisco and its now-overturned medical leave policy , noting that while there is no law explicitly prohibiting an employer from checking on staff on medical leave, intrusive monitoring – such as home surveillance – could be seen as unreasonable, especially if it is not part of the employment contract. Bosses can also overstep by demanding access to personal social media accounts, expecting 24/7 availability without compensation or requiring tracking apps on personal phones, he adds. They might even ask for detailed medical histories beyond what is necessary and force attendance at work events during off-hours. 'While some of these may not be outright illegal, they may go against best practices and data protection norms, particularly under the Personal Data Protection Act,' Mr Bhandari says. He adds that employees facing unconventional or overly demanding practices that are not explicitly illegal can take several steps. They should first document the request and the context in which it was made, and then ask for written clarification from the human resources (HR) department or management. Employees should express their concerns politely, citing privacy, discomfort or ambiguity in the policy. They should also propose alternatives, such as providing a doctor's certificate or checking in with HR at set times. Staff worried about retaliation should try to stay compliant while seeking advice, but also make it clear that they are doing so under protest or uncertainty. They can also ask external sources for help and seek clarity on their rights if there are possible privacy violations. These sources could include union representatives, the Tripartite Alliance for Dispute Management for mediation, the Manpower Ministry for legal interpretation or complaints, or pro bono legal clinics. Ultimately, Mr Bhandari notes that intrusive policies can backfire and bring repercussions for both parties. Employees may feel distrusted, over-surveilled and pressured not to take medical leave even when unwell, undermining their recovery and overall well-being. The risk for bosses is that such practices may lead to reputational damage, legal disputes or reduced staff engagement. Moreover, such measures could create a slippery slope, where managers feel emboldened to monitor other aspects of an employee's personal life, further eroding boundaries between work and home, Mr Bhandari adds. 'Employees should stay informed of their rights and know when – and how – to push back against unreasonable demands,' he notes. 'Ultimately, a fair and respectful workplace depends on trust, transparency and mutual understanding.'
Independent Singapore
03-07-2025
- Business
- Independent Singapore
Security employees union requests Certis to stop asking officers to share their location when they're not home
SINGAPORE: In a social media post earlier this week, the Union of Security Employees (USE) stated that it had met with Certis management to better understand its medical leave policy and practices, including requests for officers on medical leave to share their live location when they are not at home. Mothership reported on June 27 that officers with Certis Cisco are required to stay home during their sick leave days and share their location if they are not at home. Failure to do so would mean disciplinary action. Shirley Loo, the Executive Secretary of USE, wrote, 'We have requested for Certis to stop the practice of requesting for officers to share their live location if they are not home. Certis, which is unionised under USE, has agreed to do so, and there will be no location tracking of officers on medical leave,' the USE wrote on Jul 1. The union added that its clear position is that officers on medical leave should use this time to rest and that the USE does not condone abusing such leaves, as this 'undermines trust and affects the well-being of the fellow officers.' The union further said it would work together with Certis to manage allegations of abuse of medical leave through fair and proper processes. Screenshot USE is also in discussions concerning ways to strengthen their internal communications with their officers. This will allow for policies and practices to be clearly explained, as well as for officers' concerns to be addressed early. Both parties will also hold regular engagement sessions with Certis officers each month, providing a platform for dialogue and feedback. 'The union remains committed to protecting the rights and welfare of our security officers and ensuring that workplace policies and practices are applied in a fair and transparent manner,' added Ms Loo. LinkedIn screengrab/ Certis Certis also issued a statement on its LinkedIn page on Wednesday (Jul 2). The company clarified that there has only been a very small number of cases of individuals misusing medical leave, as when some officers took medical certificates (MCs) to travel overseas. It also explained that its policies had not been designed to be punitive but to address instances of misuse and that its aim was to ensure fairness and maintain operational readiness, given the challenges in recruiting and retaining officers in a tight labour market. 'Certis understands that there have been rumours of employees being terminated solely as a result of non-compliance with these policies. We firmly reject these rumours. Termination of employment is decided upon the severity of an officer's misconduct, such as proven malingering, and only taken as a last resort after an extensive and fair process,' it added. /TISG Read also: Certis officer goes beyond call of duty at Changi Terminal 4, helps woman spoon conditioner into travel bottle
New Paper
28-06-2025
- Health
- New Paper
Sure, take MC - but stay home or else: Certis Cisco's new rule sparks debate
Paid medical leave is a statutory right. But if you're a Certis Cisco auxiliary police officer, there's a catch: stay home, or risk disciplinary action - even if you have a valid medical certificate (MC). And if officers are not at home during unannounced supervisor visits, they will be required to send their live location via WhatsApp or get on a video call. The lack of a valid reason for stepping out would lead to a warning or other disciplinary measures, including dismissal. According to Mothership, the new policy started in March. An employee told Mothership that the news had raised concerns among staff, and speculated that the new policy was implemented to discourage officers from taking medical leave for minor ailments, and to reduce the overall amount of medical leave taken. Certis, however, says that's not the case. Speaking to Mothership, a spokesperson said the organisation's MC guidelines were "designed to support rest and recovery", and that managers may check in on employees who were on medical leave through home visits with "small care gestures". The spokesperson did add that they have also implemented safeguards to ensure the medical leave system "is used appropriately". "As a people-first organisation, we remain committed to building a culture of care, trust and accountability," added the spokesperson. Online reactions on Mothership's Facebook page as well as on a Reddit thread were divided, with some defending the policy. "As a former Certis employee, I can safely say that this policy is, unfortunately, likely a result of 'people spoil market'," said one Redditor, using the colloquial expression meaning the system was abused. Most of the comments, however, were critical of the measures. "So untrusting," said a commenter. "Culture of care, trust and accountability? I don't know what they smoking right there," added another. "What will they do next? Install CCTV to ensure their employees have at least seven hours of sleep each night to ensure their safety and well-being?" joked one. The issue also touched a nerve with readers who recalled a Straits Times piece earlier this week about how employees shouldn't feel guilty for taking MC. That article encouraged better communication between bosses worried about MC abuse, and workers too scared to rest. One commenter felt that while malingering would continue to exist, not everyone on medical leave should be placed under house arrest. "MC abuse should always be a case by case basis and not dealt with by treating everyone like they are guilty until proven innocent," the Redditor said.
