The Singapore Manufacturing Federation (SMF) was formerly known as the Singapore Manufacturing Association. Founded in 1932, it was set up to, inter alia, develop, promote and protect the interest of its members as well as to encourage co-operation and sharing of knowledge and technology among its members. The members of SMF comprise manufacturing, manufacturing services and general members. A manufacturing member is defined in the Constitution as any business directly carrying on the business of manufacturing in Singapore or any other territory approved by the Council. A manufacturing services member is defined as any business which supports and adds value to the manufactured products in Singapore. Likewise, a general member is defined as any business that is not directly in the business of manufacturing in Singapore.
The Constitution of the Federation provides for the existence of the Council of the Federation (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Council”) whose objective is to, inter alia, regulate, manage and control all the affairs, funds and activities of the Federation. In addition, the Council is empowered to appoint such Function Committees as the Council deems fit to attend to specific matters as well as to approve the formation of Industry Groups to promote the interest and growth of specific industries. The Constitution also provides that the Council shall consist of elected representatives of the Manufacturing, Manufacturing Services and General members of the Federation.
This Code of Conduct (hereinafter referred to as “the Code”) sets out the framework within which the members of the Council, (hereinafter collectively referred to as “the Members” and individually as “Member”) are to conduct themselves in their daily undertakings as representatives of the Council.
1. Scope
1.1. All Members must observe the provisions of the Code whenever he/she:
1.1.1. conducts the business of SMF and /or the SMF Council;
1.1.2. conducts the business of the office to which he/she has been elected or appointed; or
1.1.3. acts as a representative of SMF in whatever capacity.
2. The Code shall have no bearing on the activities of the Members undertaken other than in an official capacity.
3. The General Principles – Members must at ALL times comply, observe and act in accordance with the following general principles
3.1. Interest of SMF
3.1.1. Members should serve only the interest of SMF and should never improperly confer an advantage or disadvantage on any person.
3.2. Honesty and Integrity
3.2.1. Members should not place themselves in situations where their honesty and integrity may be questioned, should not behave improperly and should on all occasions avoid the appearance of such behavior. They must carry themselves with the highest level of honesty and integrity.
3.3. Good Faith
3.3.1. Members must at all times act in good faith and in the best interests of SMF as well as exercise utmost care and diligence in the conduct of the business of SMF.
3.4. Objectivity
3.4.1. Members should make decisions base purely on merit, including when making appointments, awarding contracts, or recommending individuals for rewards or benefits.
3.5. Conflicts of Interest
3.5.1. Members should ensure that no one should use his/her position to promote private interests or for personal gain, nor misappropriate SMF resources.
3.6. Accountability
3.6.1. Members should be accountable to the members of SMF as a whole and to the public for their actions and the manner in which they carry out their responsibilities, and should cooperate fully and honestly with any scrutiny appropriate to their particular office. Members should do whatever they are able to do to ensure that they and the persons working with them in executing their functions as Members use their resources prudently and in accordance with the law.
3.7. Transparency
3.7.1. Members should be transparent about their actions and those of their authority, and should be prepared to give reasons for those actions.
3.8. Skills and Expertise
3.8.1. Members shall contribute such skills, expertise and experience as required of them in relation to the work undertaken. In order to discharge their duties and obligations effectively, Members should attend meetings on a regular basis, and be prepared to contribute effectively and objectively to the discussions of the issues tabled.
3.9. Leadership
3.9.1. Members should promote and support the principles in this Code by leadership and by example, and should act in a way that secures or preserves public confidence.
4. General Obligation
4.1. Members must:
4.1.1. promote equality by not discriminating unlawfully against any person;
4.1.2. treat others with respect and common courtesy;
4.1.3. not do anything which compromises or which is likely to compromise the impartiality of those who work for, or on behalf of SMF;
4.1.4. not disclose information given to him/her in confidence, or information acquired by them which can reasonably be construed to be of a confidential nature, without the consent of the disclosing party, unless there is a legal duty to do so; and
4.1.5. prevent any unauthorised person from gaining access to information to which that person is not entitled to;
4.2. Member must not, in his official capacity or in any other circumstance, conduct himself/herself in a manner, which could reasonably be regarded as bringing his/her office, or SMF into disrepute.
4.3. A member:
4.3.1. must not in his/her official capacity, or any other circumstance, use his/her position as a Member improperly to confer or secure for herself/ himself, or any other person, an advantage or disadvantage; and
4.3.2. must, when using or authorising the use by others of the resources of the SMF:
4.3.2.(a). in accordance with the Council’s requirements; and
4.3.2.(b). ensuring that such resources are not used for political purposes.
4.4. A member must, if he/she becomes aware of any conduct by another Member which he/she reasonably believes involves a failure to comply with this Code, notify the SMF Secretariat in writing of that effect as soon as it is practicable for him/her to do so.
5. Collusive Practices and Other Anti-Competitive Behaviour
5.1. Members must prohibit collusive trade practices and any form of anti-competitive behaviour, including price fixing, controlling or limiting or expanding production, or making the agreement of a contract subject to the taking on of additional obligations.
6. Conflict of Interest
6.1. Members should act in the best interest of SMF at all times. A Member is deemed not acting in the interest of SMF if the Member or his/her relative has the following personal interest which could impact upon a decision to be arrived at and/or which might reasonably be regarded as benefiting him/her or relative to a greater extent than SMF and the public:
6.1.1. any employment or business entity in which the Member or his/her spouse is in a firm, company or other entity with which SMF proposes to enter into a contract, with individuals from whom a tender has been called from;
6.1.2. any directors or partners who are specified to perform the contract or persons, any firm in which they or a partner, or any company of which they are a director or company in which SMF proposes to enter into a contract with, including from whom a tender has been called from;
6.1.3. any public body with which the Member or persons has a declarable financial interest in a class of securities and with which SMF proposes to enter into a contract with, including from whom a tender has been called from.
6.2. In this paragraph, ‘relative’ means a spouse, any parent-in-law, son, daughter, step-son, step-daughter, brother, sister, step-brother, grandchild, uncle, aunt, nephew, niece or the spouse of any of the preceding persons.
7. Disclosure of Personal Interests and Conflicts of Interest
7.1. A Member with a personal interest in a matter must not commence consideration of that matter without the authority with which the matter is considered must disclose that interest;
7.2. Meeting the existence and nature of that interest at the commencement of that consideration, or when the interest becomes apparent.
7.3. A Member with a personal interest in any matter who has made or proposes to make an executive decision in relation to that matter must ensure that any written statement of that decision records the existence and nature of that interest.
7.4. A Member with an adverse interest in any matter must:
7.4.1. withdraw from the room where a meeting is being held whenever it becomes apparent that the matter is being considered at that meeting, unless he/she has obtained a dispensation from the SMF;
7.4.2. not exercise executive functions in relation to that matter; and
7.4.3. not seek improperly to influence a decision about that matter.
8. Notification of Financial and Other Interests and Gifts
8.1. Within 28 days of this Code being adopted or within 28 days of being in office appointment to office (whichever is the later), a Member must notify the Secretary of SMF of any personal financial interests by providing written notification to the Secretariat of the SMF a description of any contract for goods, services or works made between himself/herself and/or a firm in which himself/herself or a firm in which he/she is a partner, a company of which he/she is a remunerated director has been made by any person related to him.
8.2. A Member must within 7 days of becoming aware of any change in those interests as above stated, provide written notification to the Secretariat of the SMF. In this paragraph, a “related person” means a spouse, parent-in-law, son, daughter, step-son, step-daughter, brother, sister, grandparent, grandchild, uncle, aunt, nephew, niece, or the spouse of any of the preceding persons.
8.3. A Member must, within 7 days of receiving any gift or hospitality over the value of $250.00, provide written notification to the Secretariat of SMF of the existence and nature of that gift or hospitality. Any gift or hospitality with the value is not known must be declared to the Secretariat of SMF.
9. Confidentiality and Privacy
9.1. All Members are committed to keep information on SMF and the Council’s matters confidential, both ethically and lawfully, even after their term of office has expired. This includes not using the information obtained for his or her personal purposes.
10. Using SMF Funds and Property
10.1. All Members shall safeguard SMF’s funds at all times as efficiently as possible. This includes all forms of expense claim items.
10.2. Members shall not use, at any time, SMF funds, property or other resources for personal gain. Any infringement of fraud, abuse or misappropriation of funds would be considered as unacceptable and the individual would face serious consequences, including lawsuit, if the evidence so warrants it or funds misused are detrimental to the interest of SMF.
10.3. The unauthorised use of SMF funds for personal items, or the unauthorised use of telephones, computers, etc. for private purposes, is also unacceptable as it may be appropriate use of secretarial services for personal or business gain.
11. Limit of Authority
11.1. Members will be required to represent SMF from time to time, with the approval of the President. However, Members do not have the authority to commit SMF to any course of action, whether financial or otherwise, except that which has been approved by the EXCO or Council.
12. Public Relations and Corporate Image
12.1. Members should refrain from making public statements critical of SMF or of the manufacturing sector. Members may be personally liable if he/she:
12.1.1. makes a fraudulent or negligent statement, which results in any form of loss to SMF or to other Members.
12.1.2. members or officers, when requested to speak for themselves and/or the companies they represent when approached by the media. However, Members must express clearly that what they have said does not represent the views of SMF. Any breach of conduct of Members would be severely dealt with, and the penalty will include dismissal of the member from SMF.
12.2. Statements given by SMF Members should first check with the Secretariat for consistency in the message SMF is portraying to the public. The Secretariat will ensure all members reflect the organization objectives.
12.3. Members are free to publicise their business, colleagues their association and contribution to SMF through the use of their business cards. However Members are to exercise due care and discretion in handling out their name cards and should do so only at functions where they are representing SMF in an official capacity. Members should also place their orders for name cards through the office of SMF Secretariat to ensure consistency in the layout and design of the name cards.
