Latest news with #Certis
CNA
7 hours ago
- Business
- CNA
Deep Dive Podcast - Certis sick leave policy raises tough questions on employer-employee trust
Certis came under scrutiny recently for a controversial policy requiring officers on medical leave to share their 'live' location if they were not at home. While the company has since rolled back the mandate, the debate over workplace sick leave policies continues. How far should companies go to prevent abuse of the system and where does trust fit in? Steven Chia speaks with Hao Shuo, CEO of the Singapore National Employers Federation, and Alvin Goh, CEO of Singapore Human Resources Institute.
AsiaOne
4 days ago
- AsiaOne
4 Certis officers charged after receiving over $9,700 in bribes, leaking operational information, Singapore News
Four Certis officers were charged on Friday (Aug 8) with various offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act and the Official Secrets Act (OSA). They are Sri Daniah Abdul Razak, Muhammad Haaziq Karudin, Muhammad Khairul Amir Suhaimi and Mohammad Aziffi Selamat. The Corruption Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) and Singapore Customs said that the four were contract employees for the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority. Their alleged offences are linked with a Singaporean named Muhammad Sukaimi Gasali, who was also charged on Friday. The 34-year-old allegedly paid the officers a total of $7,661 over multiple occasions between June 2021 and July 2023 to reward them for not taking enforcement actions against him at Jurong Port. He also gave Daniah, 26, an additional $2,190 as a reward for disclosing confidential information on enforcement actions at Tuas Checkpoint over multiple occasions between February and April 2024. CPIB and Singapore Customs said in a press release that between March 2022 and April 2024, Sukaimi had allegedly received tip offs from Haaziq, 33, and Daniah about enforcement checks and Jurong Port and Tuas Checkpoint, respectively. Between June 2021 and March 2023, Sukaimi had also allegedly received information from Khairul, 25, and Aziffi, 32, about their deployment at Jurong Port. Daniah also allegedly worked with Sukaimi and another individual to import 22 cartons and 470 packets of duty-unpaid cigarettes. During a search conducted by the authorities, 16 packets and nine packets of duty-unpaid cigarettes were found at Sukaimi's and Daniah's residences respectively. The total excise duty and Goods and Services Tax evaded amounted to about $10,914, according to CPIB and Singapore Customs. Sukaimi faces six amalgamated charges for corruptly giving gratification to the officers. He also received four charges under OSA, two charges for abetment to engage in conspiracy, four charges for storing contraband or duty-unpaid cigarettes and two charges for dealing with contraband cigarettes. Daniah faces two charges under the Prevention of Corruption Act, two charges for abetment in conspiring to import uncustomed goods, two charges for the storing of uncustomed goods and one charged under the OSA. Haaziq, Khairul and Aziffi were each handed one charge for corruption and another for offences under OSA. Sukaimi, Daniah and Haaziq will return to court on Sept 5 for the next hearing, while Aziffi and Khairul are set to plead guilty on Sept 19. Offenders convicted of corruption face a fine of up to $10,000, or face up to five years imprisonment, or both. Anyone convicted of an amalgamated offence can face twice the amount of punishment liable for that offence. Those convicted of an offence under Section 5 of the Official Secrets Act can face up to a $2,000 fine or up to two years' jail. Offenders who buy, sell, convert, deliver, store, keep, possess or deal with duty-unpaid goods can face a fine of up to 40 times the amount of duty and GST evaded, and/or imprisonment of up to six years. [[nid:720364]] chingshijie@
Straits Times
5 days ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
China accuses Philippines of ‘playing with fire' on Taiwan
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr's remarks came amid heightened tension between Beijing and Manila over territorial disputes in the busy waterway of the South China Sea. BEIJING - China accused the Philippines on Aug 8 of 'playing with fire' after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr said the South-east Asian nation would be drawn into any conflict between China and the United States over Taiwan. It was responding to remarks by Mr Marcos during a state visit to India that the Philippines' closeness to Taiwan and the large Filipino community there would make involvement necessary in such a conflict. ''Geographical proximity' and 'large overseas populations' are not excuses for a country to interfere in the internal affairs of others,' China's foreign ministry said in a statement. 'We urge the Philippines to earnestly adhere to the one-China principle ... and refrain from playing with fire on issues concerning China's core interests.' Mr Marcos' remarks came amid heightened tension between Beijing and Manila over territorial disputes in the busy waterway of the South China Sea. Both countries have traded accusations of aggressive manoeuvres and sovereignty violations there, prompting the United States to reaffirm its commitment to defend the Philippines. Beijing views democratically-governed Taiwan as its territory, a claim Taipei rejects. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Business Who loses the most from Trump's tariffs? Who wins? Business SGX posts highest full-year earnings since listing, quarterly dividend of 10.5 cents a share World Israel security Cabinet approves plan to seize Gaza City Singapore Four Certis officers charged after allegedly receiving over $9,700 in bribes from man Opinion At 79, Liew Mun Leong has no time to be sentimental Singapore Student found with vape taken to hospital after behaving aggressively in school; HSA investigating Singapore CDC and SG60 vouchers listed on e-commerce platforms will be taken down: CDCs World Trump urges 'conflicted' Intel CEO Tan Lip-Bu to resign immediately The Philippine embassy in Beijing did not immediately respond to a request for comment. On Aug 6, Mr Marcos told Indian media outlet Firstpost: 'If there is an all-out war, then we will be drawn into it.' He added, 'There are many, many Filipino nationals in Taiwan and that would be immediately a humanitarian problem. 'We will have to go in there, find a way to go in there, and find a way to bring our people home.' China said such arguments 'not only violate international law and the Asean charter, but also undermine regional peace and stability and the fundamental interests of (the Philippines') own people.' REUTERS
CNA
22-07-2025
- Business
- CNA
Commentary: When employees abuse sick leave and employers overreact, everyone loses
SINGAPORE: Certis recently caught flak for requiring staff on sick leave to share their 'live' location if they were not at home. Though the security company has since stopped this policy, it is noteworthy that it was only applied to frontline officers. Conversations around flexible work arrangements have often centred around office jobs – an enduring misconception. Certis' requirement further underlines the differences between office workers and those for whom showing up is part of the job. With that in mind, I spoke to three small- and medium-sized enterprise (SME) owners running 'frontline businesses' in the logistics, security, and food and beverage (F&B) sectors for their perspectives. Comments like 'I could see why they did it' and 'employers do have legitimate concerns about medical certificates (MC) abuse' illustrate concerns they too share. Underpinning this concern is the tight labour market with more job vacancies than unemployed persons. In particular, SMEs may lack the market presence and economics of scale of larger companies. Still, as one SME boss told me: 'As a small company, if we implement these rules, I don't think anyone will work for us'. SICK LEAVE POLICY CAN BACKFIRE Abrupt changes to staffing availability have large operational and cost implications for frontline businesses and SMEs. The security firm boss pointed out to me that the nature of the work meant any absent employee must be replaced, thereby 'incurring twice the cost of salary on that day' of sick leave. The F&B business owner said that abuse of medical leave can be 'extremely costly', even leading to the temporary closure of outlets if operated by only one employee and insufficient notice was given: 'The business would have to remain closed … until a replacement can be found.' It's clear then that abuse of sick leave can have serious consequences for frontline businesses and SMEs. Yet, there are three reasons why forcing staff on sick leave to share location is a bad idea. The first is that, even by Certis' own reckoning, there is "a very small number of cases" of misused medical leave. The potential cost in trust and staff goodwill may not worth it when cases are few and far between. As the logistics SME boss put it: 'There will always be rotten apples, but they are few. So to implement such practices, I don't think it motivates the rest.' Another reason is 'there could be legitimate reasons as to why an employee might not be at home when ill', as the Ministry of Manpower points out. Organisations and SMEs are unlikely to consistently find clear evidence of abuse. The security SME owner told me: 'If an MC has been issued by a qualified doctor, I do not consider it to be abuse on the part of the employee.' Finally, efforts to curb sick leave abuse may have the unintended consequence of encouraging presenteeism. For frontline roles, working while sick can mean that employees cannot perform effectively and could lead to serious outcomes in certain scenarios, for example if it concerns security. NO ONE APPRECIATES MALINGERING What can be done to address sick leave abuse then? Research suggests that communication and a focus on staff engagement and well-being can make a difference. Clear and direct communication of job requirements at recruitment can reduce the number of 'bad hires'. This is echoed by one SME boss: 'From the start of interview, we made it clear the roles of each job… so that they know what they sign up for'. Candidates are also asked about their health and if special arrangements are needed for their family, he added. Companies should also communicate directly about their valid concerns about malingering. They will find that these concerns will resonate with most workers, who are often the ones left to take up the slack. 'We try to build a culture of trust, transparency and open communication. If people feel respected and supported, they're less likely to game the system,' said the owner of the security SME. This is supported by research. Multiple large sample studies have found that workplace absenteeism is reduced when workers are engaged, feel like they have control over their jobs, and judge that the demands of the jobs are not excessive. FLEXIBLE WORK ARRANGEMENTS FOR FRONTLINERS The use of flexible work arrangements has long been deployed to reduce workplace absenteeism. Again, this is something feasible for frontline workers, not only those in office jobs. One international study estimated that workplace flexibility practices contributed to a six-day reduction in absenteeism among SME workers each year. A 2021 analysis, based on pre-COVID-19 research findings with more than 90,000 individuals worldwide, found a connection between the provision of flexible work arrangements and better health and reduced absenteeism. This association may be stronger post-pandemic and could even help with attracting employees. 'Months ago, we encountered a problem. No matter what I put on job banks or on advertisements, I cannot get a security officer… [after implementing flexi-time] I think within a month I managed to get three,' said another SME boss in a separate study of Singapore employers conducted by my team with the Singapore National Employers Federation (SNEF). Businesses keen on reducing abuse should communicate their expectations early and clearly, engage and support their workers, and make provisions for flexible work arrangements. Still, instances of absenteeism – malingering or not – will occur. In the words of one SME boss, the best approach may be to be 'conscious that our employees are human beings who are liable to falling sick and we should factor this into our commercial and operational planning considerations'.
CNA
22-07-2025
- CNA
CNA938 Rewind - How safe are our enforcement officers when faced with abusive behaviour?
A man who threw a lit cigarette outside Tiong Bahru Plaza became abusive when officers issued him a court notice. Why do some individuals react with hostility, and how safe are our enforcement officers on the job? Daniel Martin speaks with Jackie Ong, Vice President and Head of Land Security at Certis.
