Industry Odisha Bureau, Aug 24: The Singapore government announced to increase the paid childcare leaves to 12 per year. Prime Minister Lawrence Wong raised the leaves from 6 to 12 at the National Day Rally 2026 on August 23..
The announcement is aimed to improve the work-life balance while also ensuring better parenting. The standing rule applies to families having children under 7. The new rule allows 12 days’ of leave for families having at least one child below 12 years of age.
Following the rule, each working parent can avail 12 days’ leave per year. The government has announced to bear the full cost of the additional increase of 6 days.
In the present scenario, the employers is entitled to pay for the first three days of leave. The government reimburses the rest three days of leave capped at $500 per day. As per the new norms, all 12 days of leave will be fully borne by the government. This will lessen the burden on the exchequer of the company.
The new rules demand that the employee must have been in service for at least three months continuously. In case of self-employment, 3 months of business or working is a mandate.
Each parent is entitled to avail eight leaves for having one child, 10 for 2 children and 12 leaves for three children.
“This will give parents more time and much greater flexibility to care for their children,” said Singapore PM Wong.
