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The Registry of Co-operative Societies is responsible for the administration of the Co-operative Societies Act (Cap 62) and the Co-operative Societies Rules. It regulates and controls the activities of co-operative societies and protects the interests of members of the societies.
Unique Entity Number
From 1 January 2009, the Unique Entity Number or UEN will be the standard identification number of all entities that are registered in Singapore, including co-operatives. The UEN can be used to interact with various government agencies. For more information on the UEN, please click here.
Address
Registry of Co-operative Societies
Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports
512 Thomson Road
#08-00 MCYS Building
Singapore 298136
Telephone/Fax/Email
You can make enquiries by calling 6319 2804 during office hours.
Our fax number is 6256 7250
You may also address your enquiries or submit forms via e-mail to the following e-mail address: MCYS_Regcoop@mcys.gov.sg
Office Hours
Mon-Fri : 8.30am - 5.30pm
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The primary functions of the Registry are to regulate the following:
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Formation and dissolution of co-operative societies. |
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Organisation and management of co-operative societies. |
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Custody and utilisation of co-operative societies' funds. |
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The activities of co-operative societies are regulated through the administration of the Co-operative Societies Act (CSA) and Co-operative Societies Rules.
The CSA can be found at the following link :
http://statutes.agc.gov.sg
Brief notes on the CSA . |
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A co-operative society is an association of persons who have voluntarily joined together to achieve a common economic and social end through the formation of a jointly-owned and democratically controlled business organisation. Members make equitable contributions to the capital required and accept a fair share of the risks and benefits of the undertaking.
Co-operative societieswork on the principles of self-help and mutual assistance to provide services for their members. These include credit, consumer, medical, insurance, dental, transport, security, food, housing, travel, childcare and welfare services. |
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There are two types of co-operative societies - primary society and secondary society.
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A primary society is a registered society all of whose members are individual persons who, or institutions which, have the qualifications for membership. |
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A secondary society is a registered society all of whose registered members are co-operative societies and trade unions and which has as its object the facilitationof the operations of primary societies. |
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Co-operative societies are guided by the following seven Principles of Co-operation:
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Voluntary and Open Membership
Co-operative societies are voluntary organisations, open to all persons able to use their services and willing to accept the responsibilities of membership, without gender, social, racial, political or religious discrimination.
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| 2) |
Democratic Member Control
Co-operative societies are democratic organisations controlled by members, who actively participate in setting policies and making decisions. Men and women serving as elected representatives are accountable to the membership. In primary co-operatives, members have equal voting rights (one member, one vote) and co-operatives at other levels are organised in a democratic manner.
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Members' Economic Participation
Members contribute equitably to, and democratically control,the capital of their co-operative. At least part of that capital is usually the common property of the co-operative. They usually receive limited compensation, if any, for capital subscribed as a condition of membership.
Members allocate surpluses for any, or all, of the following purposes:
- developing the co-operative;
- setting up reserves;
- benefiting members in proportion to their transactions with the co-operative; and
- supporting other activities approved by the membership.
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Autonomy and Independence
Co-operative societies are autonomous, self-help organisations controlled by their members. If they enter into agreements with other organisations, including governments, or raise capital from external sources,they do so on terms that ensure democratic control by their members and maintain their co-operative autonomy.
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Education, Training and Information
Co-operative societies provide education and training for their members, elected representatives, managers and employees so they can contribute effectively to the development of their co-operatives.
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Co-operation among Co-operatives
Co-operative societies service their members most effectively and strengthen the co-operative movement by working through local, national, regional and international structures.
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Concern for Community
While focusing on members' needs, co-operative societies work for the sustainable development of their communities through policies accepted by themselves.
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The Societies Act.
A society is essentially an association of 10 or more people. Where there is legislation to provide for registration of specific types of association of persons (e.g. by the nature of their objects), these associations will be excluded from the definition of "society".Hence, a "society" can include any club, company, partnership, whatever its nature or object, but does not include any company registered under the Companies Act, trade union, co-operative society or mutual benefit organisation.
Members of a co-operative society get together to promote the economic interest of their members. They have to submit viable business plan of the co-operative before registration. These two pre-requisites are not present in a society.
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Stage 1: A Pro-tem Committee
A Pro-tem Committee (at least 3 members):
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Undertakes a feasibility study to determine the economic and financial viability of the proposed society. A viability statement consisting of the business plan and the cash flow projections (at least 5 years) is to be prepared. |
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Considers the objects and the constitution of the society and drafts the By-laws.
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Stage 2: Seeking the Registrar's Comments
After completing the feasibility study, the Pro-tem Committee is to submit the viability statement and their particulars (i.e. Name, NRIC No, Date of Birth, Citizenship, Occupation, Address and the Office Tel No.) first for the Registrar's comments. Upon receiving the Registrar's comments with regard to the viability statement, the Pro-tem Committee may then submit the draft By-laws which include matters spelt out in the Third Schedule of the Co-operative Societies Act for the Registrar's comments.
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Stage 3: Preliminary Meeting
After obtaining the Registrar's comments, a Preliminary Meeting of at least 10 persons qualified for membership is convened to:
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adopt the By-laws (which have incorporated the Registry's comments); and
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pass the resolution to accept all the rights, duties and liabilities prescribed by the By-laws.
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No person shall be eligible for membership of a co-operative society if:
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he is below 16 years of age (12 years for school co-operatives);
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he is not a Singapore citizen or a resident in Singapore;
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he is legally or mentally disabled;
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he is an undischarged bankrupt;
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he has been convicted of an offence punishable with imprisonment; and
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he is unable to meet such other requirements prescribed by the By-laws. |
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Stage 4: Application for registration
The following documents are required to be submitted:
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Type of Document |
Signatures
Required |
Remarks |
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First Schedule |
Atleast 10 persons |
Provide:
Name
NRIC No.
Date of Birth
Nationality
Occupation
Address |
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Second Schedule |
Pro-tem Chairman or Secretary |
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By-laws |
Same as (a) |
Signatures to be appended on the last page of the By-laws |
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Viability statement (business plan and cash flow forecast) |
Not applicable |
Cash flow forecast of at least 5 years. If viability statement is unchanged from earlier submission, no need to resubmit. |
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Minutes of the Preliminary Meeting |
All those present |
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Upon registration, the Pro-tem Committee shall continue to manage the affairs of the co-operative society until the First Meeting of its members which is held not later than 3 months after receipt of the certificate of registration.
The business of the first meeting shall include the election of officers who shall serve until the first annual general meeting.
No person shall be eligible for membership of the Committee of Management of a co-operative society if:
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he is under 21 years of age (except in the case of school co-operatives);
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he is not a Singapore citizen;
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he is an undischarged bankrupt;
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he has been convicted of an offence involving dishonesty or moral turpitude and has been sentenced to imprisonment;
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he has been dismissed as an employee of a co-operative society; and
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he has been found to have previously misused or mismanaged the funds of a co-operative society. |
Applicant may approach the Singapore National Co-operative Federation to seek assistance and advice regarding setting up a co-operative society.
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The Singapore National Co-operative Federation (SNCF)was formed in Sep 1980 as the apex organisation for the co-operative movement. While the Registry of Co-operative Societies concentrates on regulating co-operatives, the responsibility of promoting co-operatives is delegated to SNCF.
SNCF has a total of 74 affiliates, representing over 99% of the total individual membership of the co-operative movement. SNCF co-ordinates the activities of its affiliates, provides centralised services to its affiliates and represents the co-operative movement as its apex body at national and international levels. Its present services include co-operative education and training and promotion and development.
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Download a list of Co-operative Societies.
There are currently 88 registered co-operative societies categorised as follows:
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| Type |
No |
| Multi-Purpose |
11 |
| Thrift
and Credit |
41 |
| Service |
14 |
| School |
11 |
| Consumer |
5 |
| Housing |
1 |
| Medical |
1 |
| Insurance |
1 |
| Transport |
1 |
| Investment |
1 |
| Apex
(SNCF) |
1 |
| Total |
88 |
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| The returns to be submitted to the Registrar are listed in the table below: |
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| S/No. |
Title of return |
Submission due |
| 1 |
Notice of Annual General Meeting (AGM) |
At least 15 days before date of AGM |
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AGM
Form |
Within 14 days from date of AGM |
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Form A - List of Officers of Co-operative Society |
Within 14 days from date of AGM |
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Audited Statements of Accounts and Auditors' Report (2 copies) |
Within 6 months from end of Financial Year |
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Annual Report |
Within 6 months from end of Financial Year |
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Notification of Change of Registered Address |
As may be necessary |
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Other returns |
As may be called for by the Registrar |
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(Note : Only one copy is required to be submitted except for S/No. 4)
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For New Co-operative Societies
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Application for registration of a new co-operative society
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Guidelines for submitting by-laws of a new co-operative society
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For Existing Co-operative Societies
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Annual General Meeting
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Amendment of by-laws
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Winding up/dissolving a co-operative society
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Circulars
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