Paid Maternity Leave

Maternity leave is extended from 12 to 16 weeks for all Singaporean births on or after 17 Aug 2008. Employers are encouraged to grant the extended maternity leave from 17 Aug 2008 and are required to do so upon legislation effected on 31 Oct 2008.

For the first two confinements, the first eight weeks of maternity leave will continue to be employer-paid. The last eight weeks will be funded by the Government (capped at $20,000 per confinement, including CPF contributions). For the third and subsequent confinements, the full 16 weeks will be funded by the Government (capped at $40,000 per confinement, including CPF contributions).

The last eight weeks of maternity leave can be taken flexibly over a period of 12 months from the date of the confinement if there is mutual agreement between the employer and the employee.

A mother is eligible for the scheme if

• The child is born on or after 17 Aug 2008;
• The child is a Singaporean;
• The child’s parents are lawfully married;

AND

• She is a full-time, part-time or fixed term contract employee who has worked for her employer for a continuous duration of at least 90 calendar days before the birth of her child;

OR

• She is self-employed and has been engaged in a particular business / trade / profession for a continuous duration of at least 90 calendar days before the birth of her child; and she has lost income as a result of not engaging in her trade, business, profession or vocation during the maternity leave period.

In addition, if she is

• dismissed without sufficient cause within the last six months of pregnancy; or
• retrenched within the last three months of pregnancy,

her employer would still be required to pay her maternity benefits.

For frequently asked questions, click here.

Paid Childcare Leave

From 17 Aug 2008, paid childcare leave is extended from two to six days per year for working parents with any Singaporean child under the age of seven, regardless of the number of qualifying children.

The first three days will be employer-paid and the last three days government-paid (capped at $500 per day including CPF contributions).

A parent is eligible if

• The child is below seven years of age on or after 1 7 Aug 2008 (includes adopted and step children);
• The child is a Singaporean and;
• The child’s parents are lawfully married

AND

• The parent is a full-time, part-time or fixed term contract employee who has worked for the employer for a continuous duration of at least three calendar months;

OR

• The parent is self-employed and has been engaged in a particular business / trade / profession for a continuous duration of at least three calendar months; and has lost income as a result of not engaging in the trade, business, profession or vocation during the childcare leave period. 

For frequently asked questions, click here.

New Infant care Leave

From 17 Aug 2008, a working parent can have six days of unpaid infant care leave per year if he or she has a Singaporean child under the age of two, regardless of the number of qualifying children.

A parent is eligible if

• The child is below two years of age on or after 17 Aug 2008 (includes adopted and step children);
• The child is a Singaporean;
• The child’s parents are lawfully married

AND

• The parent is a full-time, part-time or fixed term contract employee who has worked for the employer for a continuous duration of at least three calendar months

Parents with children under the age of two can apply for paid childcare leave in addition to the unpaid infant care leave.

For frequently asked questions, click here.

Adoption Leave was introduced on 1 Aug 2004 to allow working mothers (both employed and self-employed) to take four weeks of leave to care for their adopted newborn aged six months and below. The Government will reimburse the employer up to four weeks of salary, capped at $10,000 (including CPF contributions), if they grant the mother the leave. The Government will reimburse the mother directly if she is self-employed.

A mother may take the four weeks of Adoption Leave flexibly or in a continuous block within a period of six months from the date of birth of the adopted child.

A mother is eligible for the scheme if

• The adopted child is born on or after 1 Aug 2004;
• The adopted child is a Singapore citizen or becomes one within six months of the Adoption Order being granted;
• She has fewer than four other living children (excludes adopted and step children) at the point of application of Adoption Leave;
• She is lawfully married.

AND

• She is a full-time, part-time or fixed term contract employee;

OR

• She is self-employed and has been engaged in a particular business / trade / profession; and she has lost income as a result of not engaging in her trade, business, profession or vocation during the maternity leave period.