Paternity and Infant Care Leave Enhancements to Strengthen Family Support
In his Budget Statement on February 14, Finance Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced key measures aimed at supporting working parents in Singapore, with a particular focus on fathers and their involvement in early childcare.
Starting from January 1, 2024, the government will double the government-paid paternity leave for eligible working fathers of Singaporean children, increasing it from two weeks to four weeks. Wong explained that studies have shown that children with more involved fathers experience better physical, cognitive, and emotional development. By extending paternity leave, the government aims to encourage fathers to play a more active role during their child’s infancy.
Initially, the additional two weeks of paternity leave will be voluntary for employers to implement, giving them time to adjust. Employers who choose to offer the extra leave will be reimbursed by the government, with plans to make the leave mandatory in the future. The extension also applies to self-employed individuals who have worked continuously for at least three months before their child’s birth.
Alongside this, the government is also increasing unpaid infant care leave for both parents. From January 1, 2024, parents will be entitled to 12 days of unpaid leave per year for their child’s first two years, up from the previous six days. This move aims to provide parents with more flexibility in caring for their newborns and settling caregiving arrangements.
These changes, which will increase total parental leave for a working couple to up to 26 weeks in the child’s first year, are part of a broader package of initiatives to support families. The government also committed to enhancing the Baby Bonus Cash Gift, Child Development Account (CDA), and other provisions, with an additional cost of S$240 million per birth cohort.
Wong emphasised that these initiatives reflect the government’s commitment to strengthening the family unit, ensuring that parents have the support they need to balance work and family life.
