A Singapore Government Agency Website
A Singapore Government Agency Website
Through facilitating the development of the co-operatives (co-ops) sector, the Registry of Co-operative Societies' work furthers the Ministry's mission of building social capital and making Singapore home through the promotion of active citizenship.
With inputs from the various stakeholders, the Registry updates our policies and rules periodically so as to build a robust regulatory framework for the proper governance and sound management of the co-ops. This way, Singaporeans and residents will have confidence in the co-op structure and continue to participate in the co-op movement.
16 December 2022
Cessation of Alternative Arrangements for Meetings on 1 July 2023
The COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) (Alternative Arrangements for Meetings) Orders (the “Meetings Orders”) were introduced in April 2020 to provide entities (including co-operative societies) with the temporary option to hold virtual meetings, even if this is not allowed under the written law or legal instrument which provides for the meeting. This enabled entities to continue to convene, hold and conduct meetings while minimising physical interactions and transmission risks amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Safe Management Measures have since eased as Singapore progressively transitions towards living with COVID-19, and meetings can now take place physically. The Ministry of Law will hence be revoking the Meetings Orders on 1 July 2023. Click here to view the Ministry of Law’s press release dated 15 December 2022.
Co-operative societies (“co-ops”) will continue to have an option to hold virtual or hybrid general meetings by electronic means by relying on the Meetings Order applicable to co-ops until 30 June 2023. Co-ops may refer to the Guidelines and FAQ on the Meetings Order under “Resources and useful links". Any general meetings held after 30 June 2023 should be held in accordance with the provisions of the Co-operative Societies Act and the co-op’s by-laws.
The Registry is mindful that some co-ops may wish to hold virtual or hybrid general meetings after 30 June 2023. The Registry is studying the matter and will update co-ops in due course on when and how co-ops may hold such meetings.
For further information or enquiries, please contact us at MCCY_Regcoop@mccy.gov.sg.
To facilitate the conduct of virtual general meetings by co-ops, the “COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) (Alternative Arrangements for Meetings for Charities, Co-operative Societies and Mutual Benefit Organisations) Order 2020” (‘Order’) was issued on 27 April 2020.
The guidelines and templates for co-ops on the conduct of virtual general meetings were issued on 6 May 2020. Co-ops can also refer to the presentation slides for the RCS Webinar held on 29 May 2020 and the FAQs for co-ops.
The Order was amended on 29 September 2020 and 6 April 2021, and the guidelines and FAQ were last updated on 16 April 2021 and 21 May 2021 respectively.