Singapore to Increase Childcare Leave for Working Parents
Singapore will raise the annual childcare leave for working parents with children aged 12 and below to allow more protected time for families to care for their children as part of a wider push to support parenthood.
The changes were announced by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong during his National Day Rally speech on 23 August, where he said the Government wanted to move its support away from the immediate post-birth period.
The new scheme will give working parents with one eligible child eight days of childcare leave per year. Parents of two children will get 10 days per year, and parents of three or more children aged 12 or under will get 12 days per year.
The total entitlement for a working couple with three or more eligible children may be as high as 24 days a year.
The new scheme will combine the existing childcare leave schemes in Singapore into one. The higher entitlement will also be available to adoptive parents and single unwed mothers.
The Government said the changes were made in response to feedback from parents that the current leave arrangements were not adequate to address children’s illnesses, school closures and other care needs.
The Government will also pay for the full amount of child-related leave schemes, such as maternity and childcare leave, up to S$500 per day, S$2,500 per week or S$10,000 for four weeks.
Details on when the new childcare leave system will take effect are expected to be announced later.
The measures were designed to provide families with more confidence to have and raise children, and to ensure that parents are not disadvantaged in their careers when taking leave, Wong said.
