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What we do
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.
Did you know?
The first co-op in Singapore was registered in 1925.
Co-operative societies
Co-operative societies, or co-ops, are membership-based enterprises that operate on the principles of self-help and mutual assistance. The members are also owners of the co-ops. Most co-ops have social missions to benefit the greater society in which they operate in.
Facts and figures
There are currently 76 co-ops in Singapore [PDF, 778 KB].
The various categories and their respective number of co-ops
Categories | Number of co-ops |
|---|---|
Consumer and services | 54 |
Credit | 22 |
Consumer and services co-ops provide goods and/or services to their members to meet their daily needs. Some of these co-ops have become household names, for example NTUC Fairprice and NTUC Foodfare. While these co-ops are business driven, they are anchored in their social mission to help Singaporeans and residents through moderating the cost of living.
Credit co-ops provide financial services (i.e. take in deposits and/or grant loans) to their members who are within a pre-existing common bond of association or community of interest.
Registry of Co-operative Societies
Co-ops are regulated by the Registry of Co-operative Societies (“the Registry”) under the Co-operative Societies Act (Chapter 62) and Co-operative Societies Rules 2009. The Registry's functions are as follows:
Regulating the registration and dissolution of co-ops;
Regulating organisation and management of co-ops, so as to protect the interests of co-op members as a whole;
Supervising credit co-ops so as to promote prudence and accountability; and
Overseeing the custody and utilisation of the net funds from dissolved co-ops, including the repayments of moneys due to ex-members and/or creditors.
Contact us
Registry of Co-operative Societies
Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth
140 Hill Street, #02-00
Old Hill Street Police Station
Singapore 179369
Tel (hotline): 6337 3832
Fax: 6837 8090
Email: MCCY_regcoop@mccy.gov.sg
Operating hours
Monday - Friday, 8.30am to 5.30pm
(closed on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays)
Latest news
21 April 2025
Waiver of first-tier Central Co-operative Fund (“CCF”) contributions
As announced by Minister of State Alvin Tan on 10 March 2025 at the Committee of Supply Debate, MCCY will waive the first tier 5% CCF contributions for the co-operatives (“co-ops”) in 2025. The waiver will apply to co-ops’ surpluses relating for financial year ending between 31 December 2024 and 30 September 2025. The Government Gazette [PDF, 85 KB] for the waiver was published on 10 April 2025.
10 December 2024
The Registry of Co-operative Societies has issued the Annual Report on Co-operative Societies for the financial year ended 31 March 2024. The Annual Report provides an introduction to the sector, key statistics, developments in the year and the upcoming initiatives. The Annual Report also informs on the current members of the Central Co-operative Fund (CCF) Committee, and the contributions to and utilisation of the CCF.
18 July 2024
Co-operative Societies (Amendment) Act 2024 (Commencement) Notification
The Co-operative Societies (Amendment) Act 2024 has come into operation on 18 July 2024. Co-ops may refer to the updated model by-laws issued by the Registry for reference when amending their own by-laws to be aligned with the Amended Act. Co-ops may also refer to the new “Guidelines for payment of dividends and/or honoraria from reserves” for reference on the relevant process to seek Registrar’s approval for such use of reserves.
Separately, with the clarity provided to the definition of “surplus” in the amended Act, the Co-operative Societies (Modification) (Consolidation) Order is revoked effective 18 July 2024.
30 January 2024
Response to feedback received from the public consultation on amendments to the Co-operative Societies Act (“the Act”)
The Registry of Co-operative Societies (‘RCS’) sought public feedback from 20 December 2023 to 10 January 2024 on the proposed amendments to the Act. We thank all parties who contributed their views. Most of the feedback were clarifications sought on the application of the new provisions and RCS will respond individually to the relevant respondents. We have also taken the feedback into consideration and amended the wordings of some of the provisions to provide further clarity. RCS additionally received some feedback on provisions that were not included in this round of amendments, which will be reviewed in future legislative amendments.
20 December 2023
Seeking public feedback on proposed amendments to the Co-operative Societies Act
The Registry of Co-operative Societies is seeking public feedback on the proposed amendments to the Co-operative Societies Act (“Act”) from 20 December 2023 to 10 January 2024. The proposed amendments aim to facilitate co-ops’ operations, provide legal clarity on specified provisions and make technical amendments to update the Act. Please refer to the following consultation Documents:
Public Consultation on Proposed Amendments to the Co-operative Societies Act [PDF, 168 KB]
Annex B: Proposed Co-operative Societies (Amendment) Bill [PDF, 196 KB]
Interested parties can submit your comments and feedback via email to mccy_regcoop@mccy.gov.sg, by indicating “Public Consultation on Co-operative Societies (Amendment) Bill 2023” in the subject line by 10 January 2024.
27 November 2023
Annual Report on Co-operative Societies for the financial year ended 31 March 2023
The Registry of Co-operative Societies has issued the Annual Report on Co-operative Societies for the financial year ended 31 March 2022. The Annual Report provides an introduction to the sector, key statistics, developments in the year and the upcoming initiatives. The Annual Report also informs on the current members of the Central Co-operative Fund (CCF) Committee, and the contributions to and utilisation of the CCF.
12 Jul 2023
Updated Written Direction on Investments
The updated written direction on investments has been issued on 12 July 2023. It can be found under “Prudential requirements for credit co-ops”.
3 July 2022
Cessation of Alternative Arrangements for Meetings on 1 July 2023
The COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) (Alternative Arrangements for Meetings) Orders (the “Meetings Orders”) which temporarily enabled entities (including co-operative societies “co-ops”) to hold meetings through electronic means during the COVID-19 pandemic, has ceased on 1 July 2023.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Meetings Orders provided entities with a temporary option to hold virtual or hybrid meetings even if this was not allowed under the applicable laws or legal instruments.
If a co-op wishes to have the option of holding a virtual or hybrid general meeting from 1 July 2023, it should amend its by-laws to expressly provide for such meetings.
Co-ops should also note that going forward, some changes in the manner in which virtual or hybrid general meetings are conducted may be necessary. For example, from 1 July 2023, individual members can no longer vote by proxy (since the Co-op Act requires individual members to exercise their votes in person). Co-ops must also ensure that members are able to ask questions, communicate their views, and vote at the meeting, in real time via electronic means (as opposed to only viewing a webcast).
To guide co-ops on the proper conduct of virtual or hybrid general meetings, the Registry has published model by-law amendments as well as Guidelines on the Conduct of Virtual and Hybrid General Meetings [PDF, 873 KB] which can be found under “Resources and useful links”.
For further information or queries, please contact us at MCCY_Regcoop@mccy.gov.sg.
Guidelines for Co-operative Societies
Read more about Governance of credit co-ops.