Prime Minister Lawrence Wong Highlights Key Policy Shifts in His First National Day Rally
In his first National Day Rally, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong emphasized that achieving Singapore’s new ambitions would require a “major reset” in both policies and societal mindsets. As part of this transformation, Wong introduced significant changes across several areas, including family support, economic strategies, housing, and education.
A key policy announcement was the introduction of 10 extra weeks of mandatory shared parental leave, paid for by the government. Wong stressed the need for fathers to take on a larger caregiving role, marking a shift away from traditional gender roles. This policy aims to encourage greater involvement of fathers in child-rearing, complementing an increase in mandatory paternity leave.
While acknowledging global uncertainties, such as the ongoing US-China rivalry and climate change, Wong focused on domestic aspirations and the priorities of Singaporeans. The shared parental leave scheme responds to young families’ desires for more time together. To allow businesses time to adjust, the scheme will be rolled out in two phases, with six weeks starting from April 1, 2025, and a full 10 weeks implemented a year later.
