Sun Xueling on Child Development Co-Savings (Amendment) Bill

Government-paid paternity leave will be doubled from two to four weeks for fathers of Singaporean children born from Jan 1, 2024. This is one step the Government is taking towards “normalising paternal involvement” in Singapore society, said Minister of State for Social and Family Development Sun Xueling. She spoke in Parliament on Monday (Sep 18) when she moved the second reading of a Bill to give effect to changes that had earlier been announced in Budget 2023. For a start, employers can grant the additional two weeks of paternity leave on a voluntary basis and will be reimbursed by the Government. With the Government-paid paternity benefit to be doubled to 28 days of an eligible father’s income, dads who do not qualify for paternity leave due to their employment arrangements may be able to claim this, she said. The Bill also doubles the limits of the Government’s payment to eligible self-employed fathers for loss of income when they stop work to care for their kids. Ms Sun said that since the Budget statement in February, some employers have already chosen to grant fathers the extra two weeks of leave. Meanwhile, unpaid infant care leave, which can be taken in a child’s first two years, will also be doubled from six to 12 days per parent per year. This will apply from Jan 1 for eligible parents with Singaporean children aged below two.