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Singapore Mediation Centre
AbbreviationSMC
Formation1997
ServicesMediation
Chairperson
Belinda Ang
Executive Director
Yeong Zee Kin
Websitehttp://www.mediation.com.sg

Singapore Mediation Centre (SMC) is a not-for-profit organisation structured as a company limited by the guarantee of the Singapore Academy of Law.[1]

History

In 1996, a cross-profession committee on Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) chaired by then Senior Parliamentary Secretary, Associate Professor Ho Peng Kee, was formed to study how mediation in Singapore could be promoted outside the courts. The Committee made two main recommendations. One of which was the creation of a commercial mediation centre under the Singapore Academy of Law. This centre, the Singapore Mediation Centre, was launched on 16 August 1997. SMC is limited by the guarantee of the Singapore Academy of Law, a body presided by the Chief Justice of Singapore and governed by a Senate, most of whose members are also judges of the Supreme Court.[2]

SMC is located within the Supreme Court's premises. Mediations at the SMC are usually held at the mediation chambers in the Supreme Court. Mediation provides strategic conflict management in which parties can resolve their own disputes, including commercial, contractual, or matrimonial disputes with the help of a neutral third party. The mediator acts only as a facilitator to guide and regulate the process. The outcome of the mediation is determined by the parties themselves. Mediation is an interest-based approach that is non-confrontational, and focuses on solving problems in regards to the parties' interest. Examples of mediation services are the Healthcare Mediation Scheme, which offers subsidised mediation services for disputes between patients and healthcare institutions, and mediation for disputes arising from the Personal Data Protection Act.[3]

SMC is governed by a board of directors chaired by Justice Belinda Ang; and assisted by a board of advisors who provide strategic advice to enable SMC to achieve its mission.[4] SMC has 3 panels of mediators, classed as International, Principal and Associate Mediators.[5]

There has been an increase in mediation matters handled by SMC in its over 20-year history. In 2016, it released a record of 499 matters handled in 2016, a 72% increase over 2015.[6] It recorded an 8% increase in matters filed in 2017, and its highest annual quantum of total dispute sums administered in the Centre's history.[7]

With the introduction of the Mediation Act in Singapore on 1 November 2017, the Ministry of Law designated SMC as one of the 4 designated mediation service providers in Singapore, along with the Singapore International Mediation Centre, Tripartite Alliance for Dispute Management and World Intellectual Property Organisation Arbitration and Mediation Center.[8]

References

  1. ^ "Singapore Law: Singapore Mediation Centre". Singapore Academy of Law. Archived from the original on 7 February 2014. Retrieved 4 March 2014.
  2. ^ "Laws of Singapore: Chapter 03 Mediation". Singapore Academy of Law. Archived from the original on 8 February 2014. Retrieved 4 March 2014.
  3. ^ "Mediation centre to focus on business disputes". TODAYonline.
  4. ^ "About Us". Singapore Mediation Centre. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 4 March 2014.
  5. ^ "Mediators and Neutrals". Singapore Mediation Centre. Archived from the original on 11 August 2013. Retrieved 4 March 2014.
  6. ^ "Bumper number of mediation matters for Singapore Mediation Centre in 2016" (PDF). Singapore Mediation Centre. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 March 2017. Retrieved 13 March 2017.
  7. ^ "Total disputed sums mediated at Singapore Mediation Centre crosses $2.7 billion in 2017 - the highest ever in the centre's history" (PDF). Singapore Mediation Centre Homepage. 16 January 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 March 2018. Retrieved 12 March 2018.
  8. ^ "Mediation Act to commence from 1 November 2017 | Ministry of Law". Archived from the original on 12 March 2018. Retrieved 12 March 2018.
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