Newsletter
June 2021 Issue: Co-operator Newsletter Quarterly Issue
MCCY: Update on Holding of Annual General Meetings
21 MAY 2021
Update on Holding of Annual General Meetings (‘AGMs’)
20 APRIL 2021
COVID-19 Relief Measures: Duration of Alternative Arrangements for Meetings has been Extended
The Ministry of Law, in consultation with relevant Government agencies, has extended the duration of legislation that enables entities to hold meetings via electronic means, beyond 30 June 2021. The COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) (Alternative Arrangements for Meetings for Charities, Co-operative Societies and Mutual Benefit Organisations) Order 2020 will continue to be in force until revoked or amended by MinLaw. This provides co-ops with greater legal certainty to plan their meetings, and the option to hold virtual meetings to minimise physical interactions, amid the continuing COVID-19 situation.
You may refer to the Ministry of Law’s press release issued on 6 April 2021 here.
The guidelines and FAQ for co-ops on the conduct of virtual general meetings were updated on 16 April 2021.
View more links and resources here.
Update on Holding of Annual General Meetings (‘AGMs’)
- As Singapore has entered Phase Two (Heightened Alert) on 16 May 2021, co-ops should avoid organising physical work-related events (including AGMs) unless critical, and should conduct virtual meetings instead. All work-related events that proceed must adhere to prevailing workplace Safe Management Measures (‘SMM’) (https://www.mom.gov.sg/covid-19/requirements-for-safe-management-measures) and are subjected to the following requirements:
- Up to 50 persons (or a lower number, depending on venue capacity based on safe management principles) may attend.
- Strict adherence to SMM requirements, e.g. attendees must wear masks at all times, with at least 1 metre safe distancing between individual attendees.
- Food and drinks are not allowed at work-related events.
- As the COVID-19 situation continues to evolve rapidly, co-ops should ensure that they keep abreast of the latest requirements as and when they are announced, which may supersede the information in para 1 above (or otherwise provided by the Registry).
- Co-ops should rely on the COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) (Alternative Arrangements for Meetings for Charities, Co-operative Societies and Mutual Benefit Organisations) Order 2020 (‘Order’) to hold their AGMs virtually. Please refer to the Guidelines and FAQ for co-ops on our website (mccy.gov.sg/coop => “Resources and useful links”). We encourage co-ops to seek the advice of legal or corporate secretarial professionals if they need assistance in preparing for the AGMs.
- For info, the Order was amended (in Apr 2021) to further extend the alternative meeting arrangements beyond 30 Jun 2021, until the Order is revoked or amended by the Ministry of Law (‘MinLaw’). It is envisaged that the Order will continue to be in force for at least as long as the COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) (Control Order) Regulations 2020 is in force. To provide certainty to co-ops organising meetings, MinLaw will give at least 6 months’ advance notice before the alternative arrangements cease to be available.
20 APRIL 2021
COVID-19 Relief Measures: Duration of Alternative Arrangements for Meetings has been Extended
The Ministry of Law, in consultation with relevant Government agencies, has extended the duration of legislation that enables entities to hold meetings via electronic means, beyond 30 June 2021. The COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) (Alternative Arrangements for Meetings for Charities, Co-operative Societies and Mutual Benefit Organisations) Order 2020 will continue to be in force until revoked or amended by MinLaw. This provides co-ops with greater legal certainty to plan their meetings, and the option to hold virtual meetings to minimise physical interactions, amid the continuing COVID-19 situation.
You may refer to the Ministry of Law’s press release issued on 6 April 2021 here.
The guidelines and FAQ for co-ops on the conduct of virtual general meetings were updated on 16 April 2021.
View more links and resources here.
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