The Singapore National Co-operative Federation (SNCF) has distributed S$100,000 (£58,890) to 25 co-ops to enhance their human resource practices.
The co-operatives receiving the funding have all adopted at least one of the Tripartite Standards, a set of recommended practices to ensure fairness, inclusivity, agility, sustainability and productivity in the country’s workplaces.
The standards were introduced last year by the Tripartite Alliance for Fair and Progressive Employment Practices (Tafep), a partnership between Singapore’s Ministry of Manpower, the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) and the Singapore National Employers Federation.
The Singapore Teachers’ Co-operative Society, a recipient of the funding from SNCF, recently secured the Tripartite Standard for Age Friendly Workplaces.
“We have engaged people beyond their retirement age. We also allow flexible work time to suit staff’s requests,” said Arifah Begum, an executive at the Singapore Teachers’ Co-operative Society. “We are looking to use the grant to fully pay for enrichment courses or training that the staff have enrolled for.”
Other co-ops receiving the award include the Singapore Professionals’ and Executives’ Co-operative Society, Singapore Government Staff Credit Co-operative Society and NTUC FairPrice, Foodfare and Health Cooperatives.
“Adopting the Tripartite Standards is one of the approaches that is available and the Federation is glad to have supported the efforts by co-ops to meet those requirements,” said SNCF’s chief executive Ang Hin Kee.
“We are heartened that co-ops have invested in making their workplace more progressive and conducive for their staff.”
In 2024 and 2025, SNCF is offering a new S$500,000 (£294,651) grant pot for co-ops looking to become more sustainable. The funding will support activities including training, implementation of sustainable practices and development of action learning.
