39.—(1) The qualifications for membership in a primary society are —
(a)
in the case of an individual, that the individual —
(i)
has attained 16 years of age or, if the society is a school co‑operative, has attained 12 years of age;
(ii)
is a citizen of Singapore or is resident in Singapore; and
(iii)
meets such other requirements with regard to residence, employment, profession and other matters as are prescribed by the by‑laws of the society; and
(b)
in the case of an institution, that it is a society or is a trade union.
[3/2018]
(2) Membership in a secondary society is restricted to registered co‑operative societies and trade unions.
(3) Membership in an apex organisation is restricted to primary and secondary societies registered under this Act.
(4) Despite subsections (1), (2) and (3), membership of individuals in a credit society is restricted to individuals who belong to a field of membership consisting of a pre-existing common bond of association or community of interest among the members thereof.
(5) In determining whether the criterion for membership in a credit society prescribed in subsection (4) is met, regard must be had to —
(a)
whether the members have the same or a similar occupation or profession, are employed by a common employer, or are employed within the same business district or commercial area;
(b)
whether the members have common membership in a religious, social, co-operative, labour, educational or other association or organisation;
(c)
whether the members reside, work or worship within the same defined community, district or electoral division; and
(d)
such other considerations as the Registrar may determine to be relevant.
(6) Subsection (4) does not apply to any person who, immediately before 20 October 2008, is a member of any society which provides any financial service and which continues to provide such financial service on or after that date as a credit society, whether by virtue of paragraph 1 of the Schedule to the Co-operative Societies (Amendment) Act 2008 or otherwise.
[3/2018]
(7) A member who may at any time be found to be disqualified for any of the reasons mentioned in this section ceases to be a member of the society.