The Environmental Management Association of Singapore (EMAS) recently held its 18th Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the York Hotel in Singapore.

EMAS president Chew Bong Kong was on hand to update its members on the activities of the past work year and the plans for the coming year. Among the activities presented to the members was an update on the setting up of three new sub-committees (Accreditation, ISSC and EMAS Website & Publicity) to address the issues of concern in the industry.

Chew explained that EMAS has been working with the relevant government departments to solicit support for an accreditation scheme for cleaning service providers. He urged the members to work together to realise such a scheme and to help professionalise the industry and tem the plunging prices in the market.

In an answer to a question from the floor, Chew said that the criteria are currently being refined and are targeted to be in place by the end of this year.

With the aim becoming a voice for the cleaning industry in Singapore, EMAS will be embarking on a membership drive. The office bearers also urged members present at the AGM to actively recruit new members into EMAS.

For the accreditation scheme to be successful we need a larger membership base, noted Chew. We want potential members to know there are many benefits of membership.

According to Chew, among the benefits are helping members to keep abreast of development in the cleaning industry, advice on contractual and legal aspects of new and existing projects, keeping the members informed on new regulations implemented and discounted rates for training and upgrading programmes.

To attract new members, EMAS intends to organise talks, seminars and training sessions and undertake activities to generate awareness of EMAS. It is also putting out a membership directory for 2005.