- In line with the national initiative, Certis is expanding its inclusive employment to more persons with disabilities to provide meaningful employment that leverages their strengths and abilities.
- The latest batch of 29 employees with disabilities – Certis’ largest cohort to date – follows a new partnership with Autism Resource Centre, providing job placements with the National Library Board.
- This brings the total number of employees with disabilities to 66 at Certis, who provides a close watch at customers’ sites where these employees are deployed, coupled with a strong range of support and enrichment programmes for all these employees.
In a significant step toward building a more inclusive society, Certis has partnered with Autism Resource Centre Singapore (ARC(S)) to provide meaningful employment to persons with disabilities. This partnership reflects Certis’ commitment to making our world safer, smarter, and better by embracing diversity and inclusion in the workplace.
A central goal of Singapore’s Enabling Masterplan 2030 is to support persons with disabilities in achieving independence through inclusive employment and community integration. However, a significant challenge lies in ensuring the availability and suitability of jobs that are meaningful and well-matched to both individuals and organisations. Certis is addressing this challenge by actively developing pathways for persons with disabilities, crafting rewarding job roles that align with their skills, capabilities and confidence.
On 1 August 2024, Certis welcomed 29 individuals on the autism spectrum to its workforce, the largest group hired to date, through a brand-new partnership with ARC(S). These hires have been deployed at to the Lee Kong Chian Reference Library and a dedicated job site at the Enabling Village, where their unique skills and strengths have made valuable contributions. Features such as dimmer lighting and the quiet environment in libraries also make it an ideal setting for persons with disabilities to feel comfortable and thrive at work.
One such staff member is K.R. Teh, aged 30 years old, who is currently deployed at the Lee Kong Chian Reference Library, where the entire branch is staffed by persons with disabilities. K.R. shared: “My favourite part of the job is when I am on duty for dispatch, new arrivals, or reference closed collection shelving. For dispatch duties, I can venture out of the library; for new arrival duties, I get to see some new books before anyone else does. And as for reference closed collection shelving, I get to see old books that not many people get to see.”
Working alongside him is Yeo Hui Qing, aged 29 years old, who said: “I enjoy working with my colleagues because they are very helpful when I need help with shelving and retrieving items that are on high shelves, or with heavy items that I cannot carry. They are also very friendly and approachable when I need help.”
ARC(S) has long been an advocate for individuals on the autism spectrum, providing education, employability training, and support for job placements. It equips candidates with disabilities with the skills needed to enter the workforce, but the crucial last mile in job placement relies on partners like Certis. With expertise in job matching and a network of employers, Certis works with ARC(S) to explore roles that can be redesigned and matched to persons with disabilities, which are then pitched to existing clients. This ensures that these individuals find roles that align with their capabilities, contributing to both personal and organisational success.
ARC(S)’s employment programme, Employability and Employment Centre (E2C), has been providing employability training and support for adults on the spectrum since 2012. Certis works with ARC(S) to explore roles that can be redesigned and matched to their strengths, with ARC(S) identifying suitable candidates and training them before they are placed with Certis.
Certis has come a long way since hiring its first staff member with a disability in 2020. This latest ARC(S) collaboration increases the total number of persons with disabilities hired by Certis to 66. Of these 66, 47 are hired under Certis’ Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) services, where they are trained and deployed to customer sites. The Certis BPO team works with agencies to place individuals from partners like ARC(S), as well as MINDS and Metta School, to create roles that are fulfilling and impactful. The remaining 19 individuals are office-based employees within Certis’ secure logistics services and integrated facilities management business units, where they work across a variety of specially-designed roles from servicing the cash processing centre to providing IT helpdesk support.
People Advantage Pte Ltd (PAPL), Certis’ subsidiary under which BPO hired the 29 individuals from the ARC(S) partnership, has also been awarded SG Enabling Mark (Silver) by SG Enable, recognising Certis’ commitment to fostering a more inclusive workforce. This national-level accreditation acknowledges our dedication to implementing disability-inclusive hiring practices and creating an environment where individuals with disabilities are valued and empowered to contribute meaningfully. Receiving the Enabling Mark (Silver) underscores Certis’ ongoing efforts to champion diversity, equity, and inclusion, reinforcing our mission to provide opportunities for all.
Lee Hock Heng, Deputy Chief Executive, Singapore, Certis said, “We are continually seeking ways to support the employment of persons with disabilities within our organisation and with our partners. What is equally important is fostering a culture of empathy and understanding, which is why we train our people to work inclusively and supportively alongside persons with disabilities. Everyone deserves the chance to thrive, and we are committed to providing these opportunities. With the support of our partners, we are proud to welcome persons with disabilities into an active role in the workforce, creating a space where they can do their best as valued members of our team.”
Robin Goh, Senior Vice President and Head, Group Communications and Marketing, Certis said, " We believe that inclusion is not just a responsibility, but a core part of our purpose at Certis. 66 years on, we have evolved beyond our roots as a security firm with a diverse offering of solutions, from AI-powered operations-technology, facilities management to outsourcing services like recruitment. Yet, at the heart of everything we do is a commitment to inclusivity, adding deeper purpose and value to the services we deliver. By supporting the government's Enabling Masterplan 2030, we are helping to create a future where everyone can contribute meaningfully to society. Our people are the heart of our business, and by providing continuous training and support, we aim to make the employment journey seamless for both our employees and our clients. We look forward to expanding our partnerships and creating even more opportunities for persons with disabilities.”
To ensure a smooth transition and continued success in their roles, Certis provides ongoing support for these hires. This includes dedicated supervisors who facilitate communication between employers and employees with special needs on a day-to-day basis, working with job coaches from ARC(S) to provide basic disability education to team members working alongside. This is in addition to a longer training period and flexible working hours extended to the latter, as well as small group cohesions and dedicated orientation sessions for the staff and their caregivers. Certis also has monthly check-ins with clients to hear their perspective and find better synergies.
Muhammad Iqbal Bin Buang, who is the on-site supervisor for K.R. and Hui Qing, said: “As someone who works with persons with disabilities every day, I don’t feel it’s that different from working alongside any other person. In fact, I have had the opportunity to learn from them too. As long as I am observant when talking to them, I can understand their social cues, gauging changes in behaviour or tone of voice as they do not really use words to express themselves. It also warms my heart when I see the interactions between the staff and members of the public, and I believe that seeing more persons with disabilities taking on regular jobs in the workplace will make a big impact on improving inclusivity in our society.”
Jacelyn Lim, Executive Director of ARC(S), said: “We are heartened by Certis’ strong support to embrace inclusive employment. They have shown how organisations can tap on the strengths of persons with disabilities and provide them the dignity of work. Successful job placements are a win-win for both the employer and the employees. We hope more organisations can come forward to partner us to provide opportunities to enable them to become contributing members of our society.”
Certis’ commitment to inclusion underscores its broader mission of making our world safer, smarter, and better – one where diversity drives innovation, and everyone has the chance to contribute.