Singapore parents enjoy enhanced leave schemes starting May 1

See what you are entitled to.

In a release, the Singapore's Ministry of Social and Family Development said that with effect from 1st May 2013, employers are required to provide eligible working parents with:

a) 2 days of Government-Paid Extended Child Care Leave annually for working parents with children aged 7-12 years. Parents with at least one child below the age of 7 years will continue to have 6 days of Child Care Leave;

b) 4 weeks of Government-Paid Adoption Leave for working mothers;

c) 1 week of Government-Paid Paternity Leave for working fathers; and

d) 1 week of Government-Paid Shared Parental Leave where working fathers can share 1 week of the working mother’s Maternity Leave entitlement.

The above schemes also apply to parents who are self-employed.

In addition, for births from 1st January 2013, mothers who do not qualify for Maternity Leave under the existing provisions can apply for Government-Paid Maternity Benefit directly from the Government, if they have been in employment for at least 90 days in the 12-month period preceding delivery. This scheme is introduced to provide some income to working women who, due to their employment arrangement, are unable to qualify for maternity leave after childbirth. The Government-Paid Maternity Benefit is equivalent to the Government-paid portion of Maternity Leave (i.e. 8 weeks for 1st and 2nd confinements; 16 weeks for 3rd and subsequent confinements). The amount of Maternity Benefit received is based on the income earned in the 12 months preceding delivery. 

With effect from 1st May 2013, the maternity protection period for employees who are retrenched or dismissed without sufficient cause will be extended to cover the full term of pregnancy. Employers who retrench or dismiss an employee without sufficient cause during her pregnancy will be liable to pay her the full Maternity Leave benefits.

While the Extended Child Care Leave, Paternity Leave, Shared Parental Leave or Adoption Leave schemes are effective from 1st May 2013, some employers may have provided these leave to eligible employees on a voluntary basis between 1st January and 30th April 2013. These employers may claim from Government reimbursement for the Government-paid portion of the leave. Self-employed parents who have taken the leave during the same period are also eligible to claim reimbursement from the Government.

Employers and self-employed parents can start to submit their claims for reimbursement for the respective leave schemes from 1st May 2013. Information on the different schemes, frequently asked questions and the claim procedures are available at https://www.profamilyleave.gov.sg. Please refer to the Annex for details on the eligibility criteria. 

These enhancements were previously announced as part of the Marriage and Parenthood Package in January 2013 which aim to (i) improve access to housing to support earlier marriages and births, (ii) provide support for conception and delivery costs, (iii) further defray child-raising costs, (iv) help working couples to balance work and family commitments, and (v) encourage shared parental responsibility. The Ministry of Social and Family Development has amended the Child Development Co-Savings Act to effect the enhanced leave schemes under the package.