Latest news with #USE
New Paper
6 days ago
- Business
- New Paper
Certis scraps policy requiring staff on sick leave to share live location after union steps in
Security company Certis has agreed to stop asking officers to share their live location if they are not home while on medical leave, following intervention by the Union of Security Employees (USE). "Certis, which is unionised under USE, has agreed to do so, and there will be no location tracking of officers on medical leave," Ms Shirley Loo, USE's executive secretary said in response to queries from The Straits Times. The decision came days after Certis' medical leave policy drew criticism following an employee's tip-off to the media. The Singapore-headquartered company, which also has operations in Australia and Qatar, recently mandated that employees on medical leave must remain in their declared residential addresses in Singapore. If found to be elsewhere during unannounced house visits, they would be asked to share their live location via WhatsApp, or attend video calls, said a current officer in his letter to the media. Requesting anonymity, the officer said: "I personally experienced this policy when I was on sick leave and asked to share my live location... This created immense psychological stress and violated my right to privacy. I complied under fear of reprisal." The officer added that he was at his parents' home when asked to share his location. According to an internal employee memo seen by ST, two Certis officers were dismissed in April 2025 for "malingering", a term referring to the falsification of illness. Both officers were found to be overseas during a house visit, according to the memo. It added that Certis maintains a resolute stance when addressing disciplinary matters such as "falsification of records, misconduct, sleeping on duty and cases of absent without leave". In a statement to ST earlier on July 1, Certis clarified that these employees were not dismissed solely because they were not at home while on medical leave. "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," said the company spokesperson. He added that Certis visits officers at their homes or the hospital only when they are on frequent or extended medical leave. "In rare instances, we have asked officers to share their live location, but this is only done where necessary to ensure their well-being, purely voluntary and is always handled with care for privacy," said the spokesperson. "The intent of such follow-ups is not punitive. Rather, it is to understand if our officers require further support and also to help manage our manpower planning more effectively," he added. Certis said the policy was also necessary to help maintain operational readiness and ensure fairness, especially as it faces challenges in recruiting and retaining officers. "The policy is not designed to penalise employees but to address instances of system misuse," the spokesperson said, adding that a very small number of front-line officers had been found to have misused their medical leave. "There have been situations where officers took MCs (medical certificates) to travel overseas. These irresponsible behaviours affect overall team resourcing and are unfair to colleagues who need to cover additional shifts," said the spokesperson. But Certis also acknowledged the need to work with its union partners to review its current processes, and confirmed that it would stop the controversial policy of requesting live locations from officers on medical leave. Ms Loo from USE, an affiliate of the National Trades Union Congress, said the union is working with Certis to improve its internal communication so that its policies are clearly explained to officers. She added that the union does not condone any abuse of medical leave, which undermines trust and affects other officers' well-being. "We will work with Certis to manage any alleged abuse of medical leave cases through fair and proper processes," she said. Both Certis and USE also agreed to co-organise regular monthly engagement sessions, providing a platform for ongoing dialogue with front-line officers. In response to ST's query, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) on June 30 said there could be legitimate reasons why an employee might not be at home when ill, and this should not be taken as conclusive evidence of misconduct. The ministry said employers must not discourage their staff from taking sick leave, which is a statutory entitlement. Employees should be able to take sick leave to address their health needs and use it responsibly. MOM also encouraged employers to regularly engage their employees to address concerns and ensure that their policies are well-communicated. "This will help to build trust between employers and employees, and create a positive workplace culture."
Fashion Value Chain
07-07-2025
- Business
- Fashion Value Chain
Uniform & Sportswear Expo Returns to Mumbai in Nov 2025
Following three successful editions, Uniform & Sportswear Expo (USE) 2025, alongside the Daily Wear Expo, is set to take place from November 26 to 28, 2025, at the Nehru Centre, Worli, Mumbai. The event continues to establish itself as a vital sourcing platform for uniforms, sportswear, and related industries across India and beyond. Organized by Vibgyor Expositions, this focused B2B trade show attracts a highly relevant visitor profile spanning schools, colleges, manufacturing sectors, hospitality, police forces, medical institutions, fitness industries, and more. The event's strategic location, accessible transportation, and robust infrastructure further enhance its appeal. 'This edition aims to be even more impactful than before,' said Devang N. Sheth, Director, Vibgyor Expositions. 'Through expanded promotional campaigns, roadshows, and media outreach, we aim to attract greater participation and reinforce USE as a transformative platform.' USE 2025 will once again highlight India's strong textile and printing base, aligning with the 'Make in India' initiative by promoting local manufacturing for global export. Building on its dynamic 2024 edition, the event promises to expand its legacy. Last year's highlights included: A panel discussion on 'Sustainable School Uniforms' , bringing together educators and vendors. The debut of Daily Wear Expo . Awards presented to Mumbai's Top 25 School Educators , recognizing contributions to responsible uniform choices. Strong visitor and exhibitor turnout with positive business outcomes. Exhibitors from 2024 praised the event's business relevance and professionalism: Silkflex Polymers India Ltd. noted strong industry insights and exposure for their textile printing inks. R.K. Sewing Machines appreciated the focused visitor base and sourcing relevance. Sumiro Trends and Vimla Prints , both from Surat, highlighted positive visitor engagement and brand awareness. Uniform Solutions called the sustainability panel 'insightful and strategic' for business partnerships. As the uniform and sportswear sectors expand rapidly, USE 2025 is expected to play a pivotal role in helping stakeholders connect, collaborate, and scale. For more information, visit:
CNA
03-07-2025
- Health
- CNA
Certis says the way its sick leave policy was ‘perceived' has caused ‘concern and discomfort'
SINGAPORE: Certis, in an internal memo sent to staff members on Wednesday (Jul 2), said it recognised that the way its 'care visit' policy was perceived had caused concern and discomfort. The memo, seen by CNA on Thursday, was in response to backlash from its medical leave policy. The policy requires officers to remain at home if on sick leave. Managers may also check in on them, particularly those on extended medical leave, including visiting the employee's home with "small care gestures", Certis previously said in response to CNA queries. Certis also previously required employees on medical leave to share their "live" location if they were not at home. The security firm, following consultation with the Union of Security Employees (USE), has since agreed to stop location tracking of officers on medical leave. In the memo, Chief Human Resources Officer Jaclyn Lee said the care visit policy was meant to be a way to check in on employees when they are unwell. 'It was to ensure our officers are safe and to offer support, especially during extended periods of medical leave,' Dr Lee said. 'But we now recognise that the way it was rolled out, communicated, and perceived caused concern and discomfort.' Dr Lee also reiterated that termination would only be considered in serious cases, such as proven dishonesty, and will always follow a 'thorough and fair' process. Referencing the decision to stop location tracking of officers on sick leave, Dr Lee noted it was a key area of concern. 'This step reflects our commitment to protecting your privacy while keeping lines of care open,' she said. Certis is also working closely with USE to review its approach to care visits, and to improve how it supports its employees going forward, Dr Lee said. USE previously said it is discussing with the Certis management on ways to strengthen their internal communications with their officers, so that policies and practices are clearly explained and their officers' concerns can be addressed early. 'USE and Certis has agreed to co-organise regular monthly engagement sessions with Certis officers, providing a platform for ongoing dialogue and feedback," USE executive secretary Shirley Loo had said. Acknowledging that frontline roles are demanding "in every sense", Dr Lee thanked employees for their hard work, resilience and service. 'We're committed to learning from this, and to building a workplace where trust, support, and respect are not just values, but lived experiences," she said.
AsiaOne
02-07-2025
- AsiaOne
Daily roundup: Hong Kong's Michelin Bib Gourmand Mak Man Kee Wonton Noodles to debut in Singapore — and other top stories today, World News
Stay in the know with a recap of our top stories today. 1. Hong Kong's Michelin Bib Gourmand Mak Man Kee Wonton Noodles to debut in Singapore It seems more food and beverage brands from Hong Kong are coming to Singapore lately. Hot on the heels of Mon Kee cafe's opening announcement, Mak Man Kee Wonton Noodles — another famous name in Hong Kong — revealed that it will open its first overseas venture in Singapore... » READ MORE 2. Certis to cease tracking live location of officers on sick leave, says union Security company Certis has agreed to roll back its latest mandate that required employees on sick leave to share their live location if they are not at home, following discussions with the Union of Security Employees (USE). "Certis, which is unionised under USE, has agreed to do so, and there will be no location tracking of officers on medical leave," it said in a statement on Tuesday (July 1).... » READ MORE 3. 'It was a brand new world': Ferlyn Wong recounts first foray into stunts and fight scenes in new fantasy drama Local actress Ferlyn Wong jumped into new territory with The Spirit Hunter, a local fantasy drama series that required her to be suspended in mid-air, fight with swords and use martial arts. In a recent interview with AsiaOne, the 33-year-old shared her experience preparing for her role as Hua Cheng Feng, a swordswoman with a life purpose — to give back to her god-uncle after he saved her life... » READ MORE 4. 20 persons arrested in multi-agency anti-crime blitz in Geylang and Joo Chiat Eight men and 12 women, aged between 24 and 55, were arrested for various offences during a multi-agency enforcement operation in Geylang and Joo Chiat on Friday (June 27). The offences include drink driving, driving without a valid licence and insurance, non-maintenance of fire safety provisions, providing massage services without a valid licence, suspected drug-related offences, and working without a valid work permit... » READ MORE
The Star
02-07-2025
- Business
- The Star
Singapore security firm to stop tracking live location of front-line officers on sick leave after union intervention
SINGAPORE: Security company Certis has agreed to stop asking officers to share their live location if they are not home while on medical leave, following intervention by the Union of Security Employees (USE). 'Certis, which is unionised under USE, has agreed to do so, and there will be no location tracking of officers on medical leave,' Shirley Loo, USE's executive secretary said in response to queries from The Straits Times. The decision came days after Certis' medical leave policy drew criticism following an employee's tip-off to the media. The Singapore-headquartered company, which also has operations in Australia and Qatar, recently mandated that employees on medical leave must remain in their declared residential addresses in Singapore. If found to be elsewhere during unannounced house visits, they would be asked to share their live location via WhatsApp, or attend video calls, said a current officer in his letter to the media. Requesting anonymity, the officer said: 'I personally experienced this policy when I was on sick leave and asked to share my live location... This created immense psychological stress and violated my right to privacy. I complied under fear of reprisal.' The officer added that he was at his parents' home when asked to share his location. According to an internal employee memo seen by ST, two Certis officers were dismissed in April 2025 for 'malingering', a term referring to the falsification of illness. Both officers were found to be overseas during a house visit, according to the memo. It added that Certis maintains a resolute stance when addressing disciplinary matters such as 'falsification of records, misconduct, sleeping on duty and cases of absent without leave'. In a statement to ST earlier on July 1, Certis clarified that these employees were not dismissed solely because they were not at home while on medical leave. '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,' said the company spokesperson. He added that Certis visits officers at their homes or the hospital only when they are on frequent or extended medical leave. 'In rare instances, we have asked officers to share their live location, but this is only done where necessary to ensure their well-being, purely voluntary and is always handled with care for privacy,' said the spokesperson. 'The intent of such follow-ups is not punitive. Rather, it is to understand if our officers require further support and also to help manage our manpower planning more effectively,' he added. Certis said the policy was also necessary to help maintain operational readiness and ensure fairness, especially as it faces challenges in recruiting and retaining officers. 'The policy is not designed to penalise employees but to address instances of system misuse,' the spokesperson said, adding that a very small number of front-line officers had been found to have misused their medical leave. 'There have been situations where officers took MCs (medical certificates) to travel overseas. These irresponsible behaviours affect overall team resourcing and are unfair to colleagues who need to cover additional shifts,' said the spokesperson. But Certis also acknowledged the need to work with its union partners to review its current processes, and confirmed that it would stop the controversial policy of requesting live locations from officers on medical leave. Loo from USE, an affiliate of the National Trades Union Congress, said the union is working with Certis to improve its internal communication so that its policies are clearly explained to officers. She added that the union does not condone any abuse of medical leave, which undermines trust and affects other officers' well-being. 'We will work with Certis to manage any alleged abuse of medical leave cases through fair and proper processes,' she said. Both Certis and USE also agreed to co-organise regular monthly engagement sessions, providing a platform for ongoing dialogue with front-line officers. In response to ST's query, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) on June 30 said there could be legitimate reasons why an employee might not be at home when ill, and this should not be taken as conclusive evidence of misconduct. The ministry said employers must not discourage their staff from taking sick leave, which is a statutory entitlement. Employees should be able to take sick leave to address their health needs and use it responsibly. MOM also encouraged employers to regularly engage their employees to address concerns and ensure that their policies are well-communicated. 'This will help to build trust between employers and employees, and create a positive workplace culture.' - The Straits Times/ANN
