Singapore lifts childcare leave to 8-12 days, shifts full cost to state
Why it matters: Parents with three children would get 24 combined leave days, while employers would no longer share statutory leave costs.
Singapore will expand childcare leave for working parents and have the government fully reimburse statutory child-related leave costs, marking a broader family-support push at the National Day Rally. Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said each parent with one child under 12 will get eight days of childcare leave a year, rising to 10 days for two children and 12 days for three or more. That replaces the current system of six days for parents whose youngest child is 6 or younger, and two days if the youngest is 7 to 12. Wong said the changes, subject to tripartite consultation and legislative updates, aim to give families more flexibility while easing employers' financial burden, though businesses told Channel News Asia staffing gaps will remain a concern.