You may be part of a
100-year-old movement.
100-year-old movement.
Learn more about the Singapore Cooperative Movement.
About Sncf
Who are we
Singapore National Co-operative Federation has been the voice for the Singapore Co-operative Movement since 1980. We continue to empower the co-operatives through building a strong support ecosystem which fosters collaborations between co-operatives for business partnerships; and allows for acquisition of new knowledge and competencies and learning through peers and best practices to enhance co-ops’ capabilities.
Today, we represent 99% of co-operative members in Singapore through our affiliates. At present, the Movement boasts a base of more than 1.4 million members. We are also a member of the International Co-operative Alliance (ICA) and the World Council of Credit Unions (WOCCU).
What we do
Supporting local co-operatives is at the heart of our work, but it’s not all that we do.
Our comprehensive programmes help co-operatives strengthen their enterprises so they can better serve their members, the broader community and transform the national economy.
Our services include:
• National & Sector-wide Representation• Co-operative Formation
• Co-operative Talent Development Programmes
• Disbursement of Co-op Grants & Assistance schemes
• Co-operative Education
• Marketing & Publicity
• Capability Development
Work with us. For any enquiries, contact us at contactus@sncf.org.sg.
Mission of SNCF
To promote and develop co-operatives as sustainable enterprises that address social and economic needs through the principle of self and mutual help so as to foster a more resilient society.
We have adopted the Tripartite Standards
We are committed to building a fair and inclusive workplace and environment for our staff, and therefore have adopted a set of good employment practices that meet the requirements of the Tripartite Standards.
Currently, we have adopted:
- Tripartite Standard on Recruitment Practices (RP)
- Tripartite Standard on Flexible Work Arrangements (FWA)
- Tripartite Standard on Work-Life Harmony (WLH)
Milestones
1924
Straits Settlements Co-operative Societies Ordinance was passed.
7 October 1925
The first Thrift & Loan Society was formed (Singapore Government Servants’ Co-operative Thrift & Loan Society Ltd).
16 November 1933
Singapore Urban Co-operative Ltd was formed. It served as a coordinating body for a number of primary co-operatives and was later renamed Singapore Co-operative Union Ltd.
1942
The war forced all co-operatives to cease operations.
23 August 1946
The Singapore Co-operative Stores Society Ltd was registered to help ease initial post-war food shortage and escalating prices.
December 1947
Co-operatives in Singapore were informed that they were granted exemption from taxation (Income Tax was introduced in Singapore w.e.f. 1 January 1948).
1924
Straits Settlements Co-operative Societies Ordinance was passed.
7 October 1925
The first Thrift & Loan Society was formed (Singapore Government Servants’ Co-operative Thrift & Loan Society Ltd).
16 November 1933
Singapore Urban Co-operative Ltd was formed. It served as a coordinating body for a number of primary co-operatives and was later renamed Singapore Co-operative Union Ltd.
1942
The war forced all co-operatives to cease operations.
23 August 1946
The Singapore Co-operative Stores Society Ltd was registered to help ease initial post-war food shortage and escalating prices.
December 1947
Co-operatives in Singapore were informed that they were granted exemption from taxation (Income Tax was introduced in Singapore w.e.f. 1 January 1948).
1924
Straits Settlements Co-operative Societies Ordinance was passed.
7 October 1925
The first Thrift & Loan Society was formed (Singapore Government Servants’ Co-operative Thrift & Loan Society Ltd).
16 November 1933
Singapore Urban Co-operative Ltd was formed. It served as a coordinating body for a number of primary co-operatives and was later renamed Singapore Co-operative Union Ltd.
1942
The war forced all co-operatives to cease operations.
23 August 1946
The Singapore Co-operative Stores Society Ltd was registered to help ease initial post-war food shortage and escalating prices.
December 1947
Co-operatives in Singapore were informed that they were granted exemption from taxation (Income Tax was introduced in Singapore w.e.f. 1 January 1948).
1924
Straits Settlements Co-operative Societies Ordinance was passed.
7 October 1925
The first Thrift & Loan Society was formed (Singapore Government Servants’ Co-operative Thrift & Loan Society Ltd).
16 November 1933
Singapore Urban Co-operative Ltd was formed. It served as a coordinating body for a number of primary co-operatives and was later renamed Singapore Co-operative Union Ltd.
1942
The war forced all co-operatives to cease operations.
23 August 1946
The Singapore Co-operative Stores Society Ltd was registered to help ease initial post-war food shortage and escalating prices.
December 1947
Co-operatives in Singapore were informed that they were granted exemption from taxation (Income Tax was introduced in Singapore w.e.f. 1 January 1948).
In 2002, SNCF reviewed its strategic direction with an emphasis placed on the enhancement of Co-operative Governance among co-operatives. Across the years, the federation ran numerous public campaigns to raise awareness on the Singapore Co-operative Movement as well as charity shows to benefit communities locally and abroad.
In 2007, SNCF hosted the ICA General Assembly in Singapore. Three years later, the federation became the first national-level organisation from Southeast Asia to become a direct member of World Council of Credit Union (WOCCU).
To commemorate SNCF’s 35th anniversary and 90 years of co-operative history in Singapore, SNCF commissioned The Singapore Co-operative Story (1925 - 2014), a book chronicling the Co-operative Movement and the trailblazing works of co-operative pioneers, in 2015.
In conjunction with Singapore’s Bicentennial celebrations in 2019, SNCF organised a year-long campaign of art-themed pop-up events – “Coming Together As One Through Art”, to raise awareness about the Co-operative Movement and co-operatives’ contributions to Singapore’s nation-building efforts. The federation published a book Singapore Co-operatives, Singapore Stories to commemorate Singapore’s Bicentennial as well.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, SNCF helped co-operatives pivot effectively by offering new grants, and institutional and other digital support. The latter include basic designing workshops for co-operative members to adapt to the digital playground. In 2021, following a one-year hiatus, SNCF organised the Annual Co-operative Leaders’ Conference (ACLC), a phygital event that saw guests attending physically and online.