NDR 2026: Working parents to get up to 12 days of childcare leave; government to bear the cost
Change will take effect after consultation with tripartite partners
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[SINGAPORE] The government will increase the amount of childcare leave that working parents are entitled to, with those who have more children able to get more of such leave.
Announcing this at the National Day Rally on Sunday (Aug 23), Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said that every working parent who has one child (up to 12 years old) will get eight childcare leave days.
Those with two children will get 10 days each, and those with three or more children will get 12 days each. The implementation date is pending tripartite consultation.
The government will also cover the cost of all statutory child-related leave, up to the reimbursement limit, said PM Wong, which is a shift from the existing arrangement where the financial cost is shared between the government and employers.
This is a marked increased from the current entitlement where every working parent receives six childcare leave days if their youngest child is six years old or below, and two days of leave if their youngest child is from seven to 12 years old.
Acknowledging feedback from parents that the existing arrangement “is not enough”, PM Wong said the latest move will provide significantly more leave while recognising that caregiving demands rise with the number of children.
“Having more children means greater caregiving responsibilities. And older children still need their parents – the needs are different, but they do not go away – so parents often end up using their own annual leave,” he said.
The prime minister cited an example of a working couple with three primary school-going children.
Today, the couple would receive four days of childcare leave. But with the new changes, they will get a total of 24 days.
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“This will give parents more time and much greater flexibility to care for their children,” he said.
PM Wong said the move to have the government pay for all statutory childcare-related leave, up to the reimbursement limit, will reduce the financial burden on employers. He also called on employers to be “more supportive” of their employees who are parents.
“I ask all employers to do your part: Support parents in your organisations and give them confidence to take the leave they are entitled to, (and) help them settle back into work afterwards,” he said.
“Make sure that becoming a parent never becomes a disadvantage in someone’s career. Remember: parents who feel supported are better able to give their best – at home and at work.”
In a separate news release, the Prime Minister’s Office’s National Population and Talent Division said that more details of the new childcare leave scheme will be announced at a later date.
“The government has been working closely with tripartite partners on these enhancements and will continue to engage employers and parents to gather feedback on implementation. Updates to legislation and systems are also required,” the division said.
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