Introduction:
Singapore’s government has taken a significant step towards supporting working parents with the introduction of an enhanced parental leave policy. This policy aims to provide parents with more time to bond with their newborns and foster a stronger family bond.
Key Points:
- Extended Parental Leave: Parents can now enjoy up to 30 weeks of paid leave in total, including 4 weeks of mandatory Government-Paid Paternity Leave (GPPL) for eligible working fathers.
- Shared Parental Leave (SPL): The new SPL scheme allows parents to share a leave of 10 weeks between themselves, promoting gender equality and work-life balance.
- Flexibility and Customization: Parents can choose how to allocate their SPL, allowing them to tailor the leave to their specific needs.
Take note:
- The new SPL will be implemented in 2 phases in consideration of its impact on employers.
- Phase 1: 6 weeks of SPL (from 1 April 2025)
- Phase 2: 10 weeks of SPL (from 1 April 2026)
- Parents have one year to utilize their SPL benefits.
- Employees must give a minimum notice of at least 4 weeks before taking Government-Paid Maternity Leave (GPML), Government-Paid Paternity Leave (GPPL) and the new Shared Paid Leave (SPL).
- Employers may verify their employees’ SPL sharing arrangement and submit leave reimbursement claims via the Government-Paid Leave Schemes portal (profamilyleave.msf.gov.sg).
For more information, check out these resources:
- Infographic: MadeForFamilies | Government-Paid Paternity Leave
- Government Policy: profamilyleave.msf.gov.sg
- Strategy Group PMO: https://www.strategygroup.gov.sg/stronger-support-for-working-parents-with-enhanced-parental-leave-schemes-from-1-april-2025/
Conclusion:
The enhanced parental leave policy in Singapore is a positive step towards supporting working families. By providing parents with more time to bond with their newborns, the government is promoting a healthier work-life balance and fostering a more family-friendly environment.
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#Singapore #ParentalLeave #FamilyTime #WorkLifeBalance
