Enhanced Government-Paid Maternity Leave (GPML) Scheme
Provisions under the 2004 Marriage and Parenthood package
1 Under the 2004 Marriage and Parenthood package, 12 weeks of paid maternity leave are provided to a working mother who gave birth to a Singapore citizen child and meets all the criteria of the GPML scheme. The first 8 weeks of maternity leave are paid by the employer for the first 2 confinements and the Government will pay for the last 4 weeks of leave. For the third and fourth child, the Government will pay for the full 12 weeks of leave. The last 4 weeks of leave may be taken within 6 months from the child’s date of birth.
Benefits of enhanced scheme
2 To allow a working mother (employee and self-employed), to have more time to recover from childbirth and care for her newborn, maternity leave will be extended from the current 12 weeks to 16 weeks with effect from 31 October 2008 for all births as long as the working mother meets all the eligibility criteria as stipulated in the Children Development Co-savings Act (CDCA).
3 For the first 2 confinements, the first 8 weeks of maternity leave will continue to be paid by the employer. For the third and subsequent confinements, the Government will pay for the full 16 weeks of salary. The reimbursement from the Government will be capped at $10,000 per 4 weeks ie $20,000 for the first 2 confinements and $40,000 for the third and subsequent confinements. The employer should continue to pay the mother for the duration of the maternity leave and claim reimbursement from the Government after the employee had fully consumed the 16 weeks of leave.
4 If there is mutual agreement between the employer and employee, the last 8 weeks of maternity leave (9th to 16th week) may be taken flexibly over a period of 12 months from the birth of the child. Otherwise, the last 8 weeks of leave must be taken as a block immediately after the first 8 weeks (continuous period of 16 weeks).
5 Similarly, for a self-employed mother, she may choose to go on 16 weeks of continuous maternity leave or take the first 8 weeks of leave continuously and the last 8 weeks of leave (9th to 16th week) flexibly over a period of 12 months from the birth of the child.
Enhanced Protection For Pregnant Employees
6 From 31 October 2008, employers would be required to pay for the maternity leave benefits if the female employee is :
For clarifications on the liability of an employer and the protection of employees, please contact the Ministry of Manpower.
Eligibility Criteria
7 A working mother will be eligible for 16 weeks of paid maternity leave if she meets all the criteria stated in the CDCA, as follows:
a) she gave birth on or after 31 October 2008 (or with an EDD on or after 31 October 2008);
b) her child is a Singapore citizen*;
c) she is lawfully married to the child’s father*;
d) she has served the company for at least 90 days immediately preceding her delivery date.
For a self-employed mother who has been engaged in a trade, business, profession or vocation for at least 90 days immediately preceding her delivery date, she may choose to go on 16 weeks of maternity leave if she meets criteria (a) to (c).
*Note :
A mother whose child is not a Singapore citizen and/or who is not lawfully married to the child’s father at the point of birth, but subsequently meets all the criteria within 12 months of the child’s birth, will be eligible for the remaining Government-Paid Maternity Leave benefits from the point when all the criteria are met. Leave taken prior to the date of meeting all the criteria will be unpaid except for the first 8 weeks of maternity leave of the first 2 confinements for working mothers covered under the Employment Act.
Stillbirth
8 A mother with a stillbirth will still be eligible for 16 weeks of GPML if she meets all the eligibility criteria. Application to the employer must be accompanied by a certification from the employee’s obstetrician. The stillbirth will not be included in the counting of confinement order for the next confinement.
Claim from more than one employer
9 Previously, the Government will reimburse only one employer with respect to a confinement. In the enhanced Government-Paid Maternity Leave scheme, we have lifted this restriction so that a working mother holding multiple jobs to supplement the family income will not be made worse off due to the maternity leave. As such, all the employers whom the working mother is serving will be entitled to claim for reimbursement for the period of maternity leave that they have paid her. Please note that this is applicable for mothers who gave birth on or after 31 October 2008.
Transitional Arrangement
A For a working mother who gave birth before 17 August 2008
10 A working mother who gave birth before 17 August 2008 will be eligible for the 2004 Government-Paid Maternity Leave scheme (which provides for 12 weeks of maternity leave) if she meets all the eligibility criteria.
B For a working mother who gave birth before 17 August 2008 but with Estimated Date of Delivery (EDD) on or after 17 August 2008
11 For a working mother who gave birth to her child before 17 August 2008 but with an Estimated Date of Delivery (EDD) on or after 17 August 2008, she may wish to write in to the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports (MCYS) to check her eligibility for the enhanced Baby Bonus and Government-Paid Maternity Leave schemes.
12 The following documents have to be submitted for MCYS’ assessment of the eligibility:
· Original certification endorsed by the doctor stating the EDD, mother’s name and NRIC number;
· Copies of all children’s birth certificate;
· Copies of certificate of Singapore citizenship of the child (for children who are not born as Singapore citizens);
· Copy of the marriage certificate;
· Copy of both parents’ NRIC
13 The documents should be sent to the following address :
Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports
Family Services Division
Baby Bonus & Adoption Branch
512A Thomson Road
#02-01/09 SLF Podium
Singapore 298137
C For a working mother who gave birth on or after 17 August 2008 but before 31 October 2008
14 Legislation for leave provisions will come into effect on 31 October 2008. Employers are encouraged to provide the additional 4 weeks of maternity leave (on top of the current 12 weeks of leave) to their employees voluntarily if they meet all the criteria below:
a) gave birth on or after 17 August 2008 (or with an EDD on or after 17 August 2008) but before 30 October 2008;
b) the child is a Singapore citizen;
c) the employee is lawfully married to the child’s father;
d) the employee has served the company for at least 90 days immediately preceding her delivery date.
15 For a self-employed mother who has been engaged in a trade, business, profession or vocation for at least 90 days immediately preceding her delivery date, she may choose to go on 16 weeks of maternity leave if she meets criteria (a) to (c).
16 Employers and self-employed mothers may submit a claim for reimbursement after the 16 weeks of maternity leave had been fully consumed.
D For a working mother who gave birth before 31 October 2008 but with Estimated Date of Delivery (EDD) on or after 31 October 2008
17 For a working mother who gave birth to her child before 31 October 2008 but with an Estimated Date of Delivery (EDD) on or after 31 October 2008, she may wish to write in to the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports (MCYS) to check her eligibility for the enhanced Government-Paid Maternity Leave scheme.
18 The following documents have to be submitted for MCYS’ assessment of the eligibility:
· Original certification endorsed by the doctor stating the EDD, mother’s name and NRIC number;
· Copies of all children’s birth certificate;
· Copies of certificate of Singapore citizenship of the child (for children who are not born as Singapore citizens);
· Copy of the marriage certificate;
· Copy of both parents’ NRIC
19 The documents should be sent to the following address :
Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports
Family Services Division
Baby Bonus & Adoption Branch
512A Thomson Road
#02-01/09 SLF Podium
Singapore 298137
When to submit claims?
20 Claim for reimbursement by employers and self-employed mothers must be submitted within 3 months after the end of the maternity leave. Late claims may be assessed on a case-by-case basis. Please click here for information on submission of claim for reimbursement.
Things to note
What should I take note of as an employer?
What should I do if I am an employee?
What should I do as a self-employed mother? |