Frequently Asked Questions on Paid Childcare Leave
Policy Rationale
Eligibility & Criteria
General Procedures
Disputes
What are the features of the enhanced Childcare Leave policy?
With effect from 17 Aug 2008, each working parent of Singaporean children will be entitled to six days of statutory paid Childcare Leave per year (previously two days per year) if they have at least one child (including adopted and step child) under the age of seven years.
The Government will pay for the fourth to sixth day of childcare leave each year (capped at $500 per day, including CPF).
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Why is the Government extending the paid Childcare Leave?
Childcare Leave is part of the overall package of measures to support parenthood and make workplaces more family-friendly.
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Who is eligible for six days of paid Childcare Leave?
From 17 Aug 2008, working parents are entitled to six days of paid Childcare Leave per parent per year if they fulfilled the following conditions:
a) Your child is below seven years of age; and
b) Your child (including adopted and stepchild) is a Singaporean; and
c) The child’s parents are lawfully married; and
d) You have worked for the employer for at least three months.
For self-employed mothers, in addition to criteria (a) to (c), you must have been engaged in a particular business or profession for a continuous period of at least three months, and have lost income as a result of not engaging in the business or profession during the childcare leave period.
All other employees who are covered under the Employment Act will be entitled to two days of paid childcare leave.
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Will I be eligible for paid Childcare Leave if I have just adopted an infant?
Yes, parents of legally adopted children are eligible for paid Childcare Leave so long as they meet the eligibility criteria.
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Am I eligible to Childcare Leave if I am a foreigner with a non-Singaporean child?
If you are covered under the Employment Act, you will be eligible for two days of paid childcare leave if you meet the other qualifying criteria. You will not be eligible for the extended childcare leave.
If your child subsequently becomes a Singaporean, and all the other qualifying criteria are met, you will qualify for extended childcare leave from that point onwards.
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Am I eligible for paid Childcare Leave if I am on probation?
Yes, your probationary status does not affect your eligibility for paid Childcare Leave.
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Am I eligible for the paid Childcare Leave if I am a fixed-term contract/temporary/part-time employee?
Yes, so long as you meet the qualifying criteria for Childcare Leave.
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As a single parent, am I eligible for paid Childcare Leave of six days?
As long as you subsequently become lawfully married to the child’s other parent, and meet the other qualifying criteria, you will qualify for extended childcare leave from that point onwards.
Otherwise, if you are covered under the Employment Act, you are still entitled to take two days of paid Childcare Leave.
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How many days of paid Childcare Leave am I eligible for if my spouse and I work for the same employer?
Each of you is still eligible to six days of paid Childcare Leave per year if you meet the qualifying conditions.
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How can I take paid Childcare Leave? Do I need to produce a child medical certificate?
No, a medical certificate is not required. You have flexibility to take paid Childcare Leave to spend time with your child, as long as your child is below seven years old. For example, you may use it to accompany your child on the first day of school, or to care for your child personally when the usual childcare arrangement is not available.
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How do I apply for paid Childcare Leave?
You should give your employer notice of your intention to take the paid Childcare Leave and obtain his/her approval before going on leave.
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Is the Childcare Leave year based on calendar or anniversary year?
It can be for any 12-month period as agreed by both employer and employee. If there is no agreement, the leave year will be the calendar year, by default.
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Is the Childcare Leave pro-rated for part-time employees?
The Childcare Leave entitlement should be adjusted for part-time employees based on the number of working hours, so that their entitlement is equivalent to those of full-time employees.
The entitlement shall be calculated according to the following formula:
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Number of hours a week which the part-time employee is required to work x 52 |
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6 (being the number of days of paid childcare leave which a similar full-time employee is entitled to) |
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Number of hours a day which a similar full-time employee is required to work |
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x |
x |
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Number of hours a week which a similar full-time employee is required to work x 52 |
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As an employer, can I reject my employee’s application for paid Childcare Leave if there is urgent work to be completed during those days?
Yes. As in all other forms of paid leave, you should discuss with your employee and mutually agree on a suitable time to take the childcare leave so that the employee’s entitlement of six days of paid childcare leave is not affected. If the employee needs the leave to attend to matters that cannot be postponed (e.g. child immunisation, school registration), the employer is strongly encouraged to grant the leave.
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If my company already provides some form of family or childcare leave to staff, does I employer still need to provide the enhanced six days of paid childcare leave on top of this?
If your company already provides at least six days of paid leave per year for eligible employees to spend time with their children without any pre-conditions such as producing a medical certificate for the child, the company need not provide additional childcare leave.
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Can I encash or carry over to the next year any unused paid Childcare Leave?
No, unused Childcare Leave at the end of the yearly entitlement period will lapse, and cannot be encashed or carried over the next year.
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Is the Childcare Leave transferable between spouses?
No, Childcare Leave is not transferable between spouses. Unused childcare leave by any one party will lapse at the end of each agreed year.
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Can I use paid Childcare Leave to offset my notice period for termination of employment?
No, the leave will not be calculated as part of the notice period.
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As an employer, how do I claim for reimbursement of the Government-Paid Childcare Leave?
You should ensure that you have received the employee’s Declaration Form and verify that all the eligibility criteria are met before making payment to the employee. The form should be kept for three years for auditing.
Once you have ascertained that your employee meets all the qualifying criteria, you may allow him/her to use the six days of childcare leave. The claim for reimbursement can be submitted within three months after your employee has fully consumed the six days of childcare leave.
More information on claims for reimbursement for employers and self-employed persons will be available at www.profamilyleave.gov.sg from 1 Jan 2009.
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If I take four days of childcare leave in a year, how many days will be paid by the Government?
The employer will pay for the first three days, and the Government will pay for the fourth day onwards.
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What can I do if my employer refuses to grant me the enhanced Childcare Leave?
Employees who have been denied their statutory right may seek legal redress, or approach the Ministry of Manpower for assistance. Please contact our staff at mom_lrd@mom.gov.sg or 6438 5122 to provide details of your case so that the Ministry can look into the matter.
The Government, with the support of employers and unions, is working together to build a more supportive work environment for all working parents. The Ministry strongly urges all employers to implement childcare leave at their workplaces.
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