Paid Annual Leave: Eligibility and Entitlement in Singapore

Did you know that paid annual leave comes in different forms, each with its own rules and benefits under Singapore's employment regulations? 

Many employees may only be familiar with the standard annual leave, but a range of options are designed to support work-life balance, personal needs, and well-being.

In this comprehensive Aniday guide, we’ll take you through the different types of paid annual leave available, how they work, and what both employers and employees should know to make the most of these entitlements. 

What Is Paid Annual Leave?

Annual leave is paid time off (PTO) that an employee can obtain annually from the workplace or employer. Thus, it is considered part of the compensation package, where employees can rest, plan their holidays, or take advantage of it.

The big question here is “Why do companies provide paid annual leave?”. It helps your employees relax, recharge, and enjoy paid time off to spend on their desirable activities. More importantly, it helps maintain a motivated and energized workforce, reducing burnout by ensuring regular breaks and time away from work.

Who Is Entitled To Annual Paid Leave In Singapore?

Annual paid leave entitlements vary across countries based on their specific rules and regulations. In Singapore, Aniday makes it simple to determine if you qualify for annual paid leave. Here's what you need to know to check your eligibility:

• If you are in the first year of employment, you are entitled to 7 days of annual leave. If you have newly joined your company, you will be entitled to utilize this annual paid leave after three months of employment.
• After each year of employment, your paid leave will increase by one day. However, it is limited to 14 days, attained once you are in your 8th year with the same employee.
• Apart from that, employees (excluding workmen doing manual labor workers) obtaining a monthly wage of more than SGD 2,600 are entitled to any number of annual leave as specified in the employment contract. However, this number of annual leave should exceed the statutory holiday.
• Employees (excluding workmen doing manual labor) obtaining a monthly wage of more than SGD 2,600, must utilize their annual entitlement within 12 months. However, if the employer accompanies them, they can carry forward their annual leave for the next year.

What Are The Types Of Paid Leave In Singapore?

Sick Leave

The eligibility for sick leave depends on the employee and the employment period in Singapore. Here are the specifications applied for sick leave entitlements:

• If the employee is working for three months, makes is eligible for five paid outpatient days and 15 paid hospitalization days.
• If the employee has been working for four months, makes is eligible for eight paid outpatient days and 30 paid hospitalization days.
• If the employee has been working for five months, makes is eligible for 11 paid outpatient days and 45 paid hospitalization days.
• If the employee has been working for six months or more, makes is eligible for 14 paid outpatient days and 60 paid hospitalization days.

In addition, the employee should inform the employer within 48 hours before utilizing sick leave. To be eligible to obtain sick leave under critical circumstances, the employee must submit a medical certificate and get approval.

Maternity Leave

There are a few conditions for eligibility for maternity leave in Singapore. Here's a breakdown of it:

• The employee's child should be a Singapore citizen.
• The employee should have an employment period of 90 days before the child's birth.

If the employee falls into the above categories, she is eligible for maternity leave. However, maternity leave may vary based on other conditions, as follows:

• Female employees are eligible for 16 weeks of paid maternity leave, including four weeks before the child's birth and 12 weeks after the child's birth.
• The employer should provide paid leave for the first eight weeks of the employee's first two pregnancies. The government will offer a payment cap of SGD 10,000 for the remaining four weeks.

What happens if the employee's child is not a Singapore citizen? Then, the maternity leave would be only 12 weeks, and the employer would only pay for the first eight weeks. The remaining four weeks would be unpaid.

Paternity Leave

The paternity leave in Singapore also has some specifications. Here's a breakdown of it:

• The employee's child should be a Singapore citizen.
• The employee should have an employment period of 90 days before the child's birth.
• The employee is legally married to the child's mother or becomes legally married to the child's mother within 12 months of the child's birth.

If the employee falls into the above category, the employee is eligible to obtain four weeks of paid paternity leave. At the same time, this leave would be paid by the government, being capped at SGD 2,500 per week.

The employee should utilize this paternity leave after 16 weeks of the child's birth or within 12 months after birth (if the employer permits).

Shared Parental Leave

Under shared parental leave, male employees are considered. To be eligible for shared parental leave, here are the specifications:

• The employee's child should be a Singapore citizen or should turn out to be a Singapore citizen within a year from birth.
• The child's mother is eligible to obtain maternity leave.
• The employee is legally wedded to the mother of the child.

If the employee falls into the above category, he is entitled to up to 4 weeks of paid leave from his wife's government-paid maternity leave or adoption leave. This leave can be utilized only if the wife agrees. However, the payment is capped at SGD 2,500 per week.

Childcare Leave

The childcare paid leave also has some eligibility specifications. Here Aniday breaks it down for you:

• The employee's child should be below seven years old, but the number of children is not considered.
• The employee should have a record of at least three months of employment for the same employee.

If the employee falls into the above category and their children are Singapore citizens, the employee is entitled to 6 days of paid childcare leave per year. However, if the child is not a Singapore citizen, the paid childcare leave would be only two days.

The six days of paid leave would be divided, whereas the employer would pay for the first three days, and the government would pay for the other three days. However, the payments would be SGD 500 per day.

Extended Childcare Leave

If the employee's child is a Singapore citizen and between the ages of 7 and 12, the employee can obtain two days of extended childcare leave. The government pays SGD 500 per day.

Final Thoughts

In conclusion, employees can qualify for paid annual leave under certain conditions. These leaves not only provide well-deserved breaks but also help keep employees motivated, refreshed, and engaged in their work. 

If you are looking for an Employer of Record (EOR) services provider, Aniday is known for providing effective EOR services. Contact us directly or through our headhunting today!

We hope this guide helped you learn about the paid annual leaves in Singapore!