Co-operative Societies Ordinance is passed

The co-operative concept was introduced into Singapore with the passing of the Straits Settlement Co-operative Societies Ordinance on 3 November 1924.^[1] Following the passing of the ordinance, 43 thrift and loan societies were formed between 1925 and 1940.^[2]

One such co-operative formed during that period was the Singapore Urban Co-operative Union Ltd, which was registered on 16 November 1933 to serve as a coordinating body for the thrift and loan societies.^[3] The co-operative was renamed the Singapore Co-operative Union Ltd in July 1954,^[4] and became the Singapore National Co-operative Union Ltd in May 1972.^[5] With the formation of the Singapore National Co-operative Federation Ltd (SNCF) in September 1980,^[6] the union was renamed the Singapore Amalgamated Services Co-operative Organisation Ltd (SASCO) in 1982. It also functioned as a secondary co-operative focusing on welfare issues.^[7]

By 1960, there were 105 co-operative societies in Singapore^[8] with a paid-up capital of $13.2 million.^[9] In 1969, the co-operative movement received a boost when the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) recommended the setting up of trade union co-operatives^[10] that were based on cooperation – instead of confrontation – with management. Within a decade, 13 such societies had been formed,^[11] some of which have become Singapore's largest and best­ known co-operatives. Examples of such co-operatives include COMFORT (Co-operative Commonwealth for Transport Ltd.) (now known as ComfortDelGro) and INCOME (Insurance Co-operative Commonwealth Enterprise Ltd.), both launched in 1970, and WECOME (now known as NTUC FairPrice) formed in 1972.^[12]

References
1. Straits Settlements. Straits Settlements Government Gazette (1858–1942). (1924, December 5). Ordinance No 21 of 1924 – Cooperative Societies (No 2134, p. 1742) [Microfilm: NL 1221– NL 1223]. Singapore: Mission Press.
2. Daniel, R. O. (1987). Co-operative societies in Singapore 1925–1985 (pp. 4–8). Singapore: Singapore National Co-operative Federation. Call no.: RSING 334.095957 DAN.
3. Daniel, 1987, p. 25; Singapore Co-operative Union. (1958). Silver jubilee souvenir on the Singapore co-op movement (p. 12). [Singapore]: Singapore Co-operative Union. Call no.: RCLOS 334.095951 SIN; Co-operation in Singapore. (1929, September 11). The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertise (1884–1942), p. 11; Singapore co-operative societies union meeting. (1932, February 26). The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser (1884–1942), p.14; Co-operation movement in Singapore. (1932, January 23). The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser (1884–1942), p. 2. Retrieved from NewspaperSG. [By 1929, The Singapore Co-operative Union had been provisionally formed, with the post of Hon. Secretary already active since 1931. The provisional members were elected in 1932.]
4. Daniel, 1987, p. 97.
5. Singapore National Co-operation Union Limited. (1972). By-Laws of the Singapore National Co-operative Union Limited: By-laws revised & registered on 20th May 1972 (p. 1). Retrieved August 2, 2013, from BookSG.
6. Co-operative apex registered. (1981, January). The Co-operator, 24, 1. Call no.: RSING 334.095957 C, no 1 – 25, 1974–1981; 20 co-op bodies get together to form apex organisation. (1980, June 18). The Straits Times, p. 10. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
7. SNCU changes its name to SASCO. (1982, April). The Co-operator, 2, 4. Singapore: Singapore National Co-operative Union. Call no.: RSING 334.095957 C1981-1993.
8. Daniel, 1987, p. 29.
9. Daniel, 1987, p. 49.
10. Daniel, 1987, p. 34; Singapore govt. backs NTUC's co-op move. (1969, November 19). The Straits Times, p 22. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
11. Samuel, K. T. (1980, November 21). A mission that's far from complete in spite of success. The Straits Times, p. 18. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
12. Transport co-op is launched. (1970, November 19). The Straits Times, p. 2; INCOME to start business on Tuesday. (1970, September 11). The Straits Times, p. 7; NTUC supermarket to be called WELCOME. (1972, November 21). The Straits Times, p. 2. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.