Government Extends Parental Leave Entitlements, With Key Changes for Parents of Singaporean Children
Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, in his first National Day Rally, announced that new parents of Singaporean children will receive an additional 10 weeks of government-paid shared leave, effective April 1, 2026. The policy will be rolled out in two phases: six weeks of leave for parents of babies born from April 1, 2025, followed by the full 10 weeks for parents of babies born from April 1, 2026.
Alongside this, mandatory paid paternity leave will increase to four weeks, starting from April 1, 2025. This policy is part of a broader push to encourage greater involvement of fathers in caregiving, shifting away from traditional gender roles that have long viewed mothers as the primary caregivers.
These changes bring the total mandatory paid parental leave entitlement to 30 weeks for parents of Singaporean children, a significant increase from the current 18 weeks. Wong emphasized that this shift aims to support both parents in balancing career ambitions and caregiving responsibilities, encouraging fathers to take a more active role in raising children.
While the changes are seen as a progressive step for gender equality, there are concerns about the operational impact on businesses, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). These employers may face challenges with staffing, including the need for temporary replacements, training, and managing leave-related transitions. To assist businesses, a new notice requirement will be implemented, mandating parents to give at least four weeks’ notice before taking any government-paid parental leave.
