How long is parental leave in Singapore?

In Singapore, parental leave includes several components:

• Child care leave: 6 days per year.
• Adoption leave: 12 weeks for mothers and 2 weeks for fathers.
• Shared parental leave: For children born prior to April 1, 2026, employees are entitled to 6 weeks. For children born on or after April 1, 2026, the entitlement increases to 10 weeks.

What are the eligibility rules for parental leave in Singapore?

In Singapore, the eligibility rules for parental leave depend on the type of leave being applied for:

Child Care Leave:

• The child must be a Singapore citizen.
• The youngest child should be below 7 years old.
• The employee must have worked continuously for the employer for at least 3 months.

Adoption Leave:

• Adoptive mothers of children under 12 months old are entitled to adoption leave.
• The adoptive mother must have worked for the employer for at least 3 months before the adoption.
• The child must be a Singapore citizen. If the child is a foreigner, one of the adoptive parents must be a Singapore citizen, and the child must obtain Singapore citizenship within 6 months of the adoption.

Shared Parental Leave:

• The child must be a Singapore citizen.
• The parent must have worked continuously for the employer for at least 3 months.
• For fathers, they must have been lawfully married to the child’s mother between conception and birth, or within 12 months from the child's date of birth, inclusive of the date of birth.

How is parental leave payment calculated in Singapore?

In Singapore, the calculation of parental leave payments varies based on the type of leave and the number of children. Here are the details:

Extended Child Care Leave:

• An employee is entitled to 2 days of extended childcare leave each year if their youngest child is between 7 and 12 years old.
• These 2 days are paid by the Government, with a cap of SGD 500 per day, which includes the Central Provident Fund (CPF) contribution.

Note: Parents with children both under 7 years old and between 7 and 12 years old can receive a total of 6 days of paid childcare leave per year.

Adoption Leave:

• For the 1st and 2nd child, the employer pays for the first 4 weeks of adoption leave. The Government then pays for the remaining 8 weeks. The benefit is capped at SGD 10,000 per month or a total of SGD 20,000 per child order.
• For the 3rd and subsequent child orders, the Government covers the entire 12 weeks of adoption leave. Payment is capped at SGD 10,000 per 4 weeks or a total of SGD 30,000 per child order.

What is the process for applying for paternity leave in Singapore?

To apply for paternity leave in Singapore, the supported employee should:

1. Inform both his manager and our HRx Team of his plans.

2. Complete the required form.

3. Provide the birth certificate of the child.

How long is maternity leave in Singapore?

Female employees in Singapore are entitled to either:

• 16 weeks of government-paid maternity leave, or
• 12 weeks of maternity leave

The entitlement depends on whether the employee's child is a Singapore citizen and other criteria.

What are the eligibility rules for maternity leave in Singapore?

In Singapore, the eligibility rules for maternity leave are as follows:

• A female employee must have worked for the employer for at least 3 months.
• The child should or will be a Singapore citizen for the employee to be eligible for 16 weeks of maternity leave.
• If the employee has been working for the employer for at least 3 months but her child is not a Singapore citizen, she is only eligible for 12 weeks of maternity leave.

How is maternity leave payment calculated in Singapore?

In Singapore, maternity leave payment is calculated based on the employee's normal monthly salary rate and schedule.

Employer benefits from the government include a rebate system for reimbursing the costs of maternity leave. Here are the key points:

• The employer pays the supported employee at their gross rate of pay for the 1st to 8th weeks of maternity leave.
• The government reimburses or pays for the 9th to 16th weeks of maternity leave.
• This government reimbursement is capped at SGD 10,000 per 4 weeks, or a total of SGD 20,000 per child order.

What is the process for applying for maternity leave in Singapore?

To apply for maternity leave in Singapore, the employee must:

• Inform her manager and the HRx Team of her maternity leave plans.
• Complete the required form.
• Provide the birth certificate.

These steps ensure proper documentation and approval for maternity leave.

How long is the paternity leave in Singapore?

In Singapore, paternity leave is 4 weeks. This leave can be taken in the following ways:

• In a continuous block within 16 weeks of the child's birth.
• Within 12 months from the birth, subject to an agreement with the employer.

Additionally, parents are entitled to shared parental leave. For children born prior to April 1, 2026, this leave period is 6 weeks. For children born on or after April 1, 2026, the leave increases to 10 weeks.

What are the eligibility rules for paternity leave in Singapore?

To be eligible for paternity leave in Singapore, the father must meet the following criteria:

• The father has been employed for at least 3 months.
• The father is married to the child's mother.
• The child is a Singapore citizen or will become a Singapore citizen within 12 months from the date of birth (inclusive of the date of birth).

How is paternity leave payment calculated in Singapore?

Between January 1, 2024, and March 31, 2025, eligible working fathers in Singapore can take up to 4 weeks of Government-Paid Paternity Leave (GPPL). Within this period, employers may voluntarily provide an additional 2 weeks of leave, which is funded by the government.

The government reimburses or pays for all 4 weeks of GPPL, with a cap of SGD 2,500 per week, amounting to a total of SGD 10,000.

From April 1, 2025, onwards, eligible working fathers in Singapore are entitled to a mandatory 4 weeks of leave. The government continues to reimburse or pay for all 4 weeks of GPPL, with the same maximum of SGD 2,500 per week or a total of SGD 10,000.

What is the process for applying for parental leave in Singapore?

To apply for parental leave in Singapore, the following steps must be completed:

• The supported employee should inform their manager and our HRx Team of their intention to apply for childcare leave.
• The supported employee must complete a form.
• A birth certificate should be provided along with the completed form.