Singapore Maternity, Paternity, and Childcare Leave: Complete Guide (2026)

Singapore's parental leave framework includes Government-Paid Maternity Leave (16 weeks), Government-Paid Paternity Leave (2 weeks), Government-Paid Childcare Leave (6 days/year per parent), and Shared Parental Leave (up to 4 weeks transferable from mother). Eligibility requires the child to be a Singapore citizen. The government co-funds most parental leave benefits.

What Maternity Leave Do Employees Get in Singapore?

Female employees receive 16 weeks of Government-Paid Maternity Leave (GPML) for the first and second child. Eligibility: the child must be a Singapore citizen, the employee must have worked for the employer for at least 3 months before delivery, and the employee must give at least 1 week's notice to the employer.

Payment structure for the first two children: the employer pays the first 8 weeks (reimbursed by the Government, capped at S$10,000 per 4-week block). The Government pays the last 8 weeks directly (capped at S$10,000 per 4-week block). For the third child and beyond: all 16 weeks are Government-Paid (capped at S$10,000 per 4-week block). The total cap is S$40,000 for the first 16 weeks.

Employees who do not qualify for GPML (e.g., child is not a Singapore citizen) receive 8 weeks of employer-paid maternity leave under the Employment Act. The minimum qualifying period is 3 months of service.

What Paternity Leave Do Male Employees Get in Singapore?

Fathers receive 2 weeks of Government-Paid Paternity Leave (GPPL). Eligibility: the child must be a Singapore citizen, the father must be lawfully married to the child's mother, and the father must have worked for the employer for at least 3 months before the child's birth.

The 2 weeks must be consumed within 16 weeks of the child's birth. Leave can be taken as a continuous block or flexibly (subject to employer agreement). The Government reimburses the employer, capped at S$2,500 per week (S$5,000 total). Fathers of non-citizen children receive no statutory paternity leave.

What Is Shared Parental Leave in Singapore?

Mothers can share up to 4 weeks of their 16-week maternity leave with the father. This is in addition to the father's own 2-week paternity leave. The shared leave must be consumed within 12 months of the child's birth. Eligibility follows the same criteria as GPML. The Government pays for the shared leave, capped at S$2,500 per week.

What Childcare Leave Do Parents Get in Singapore?

Each parent receives 6 days of Government-Paid Childcare Leave (GPCL) per year if the child is a Singapore citizen under 7 years old. The employer pays the first 3 days. The Government pays the remaining 3 days (capped at S$500 per day, or S$1,500 total per year). Eligibility: the employee must have worked for the employer for at least 3 months.

For children aged 7-12, each parent receives 2 days of extended childcare leave per year. The employer pays for these 2 days (no Government reimbursement). The leave must be consumed within the calendar year: unused childcare leave does not carry over.

What Sick Leave and Annual Leave Apply in Singapore?

Annual leave starts at 7 days in the first year and increases by 1 day per year of service up to 14 days in the 8th year. Employers can provide more generous leave than the statutory minimum. Sick leave requires a medical certificate from a registered medical practitioner. Aniday's EOR Singapore (Aniday EOR Singapore) tracks all leave entitlements and Government reimbursement claims.

Does maternity leave apply to foreign employees in Singapore?

Employer-paid maternity leave (8 weeks) under the Employment Act applies to all employees regardless of nationality, provided they have 3 months of service. Government-Paid Maternity Leave (16 weeks) requires the child to be a Singapore citizen. Foreign employees with non-citizen children receive 8 weeks, not 16.

Can maternity leave be taken before the due date?

Yes. Up to 4 weeks of maternity leave can be taken before the due date. The remaining 12 weeks start from the date of delivery. If the employee agrees with the employer, the last 8 weeks can be taken flexibly within 12 months of the child's birth (in blocks of at least 1 week).

What happens if an employee is sick during annual leave?

If an employee falls ill during annual leave and produces a medical certificate, the sick days are deducted from sick leave entitlement instead of annual leave. The employee effectively gets those annual leave days back. This applies only if the employee provides a valid medical certificate from a registered medical practitioner.

Are public holidays in addition to annual leave?

Yes. Singapore has 11 gazetted public holidays per year. These are in addition to annual leave entitlement. If a public holiday falls on a rest day, the next working day is a paid holiday. If a public holiday falls during annual leave, it is counted as a public holiday, not annual leave. Employees working on public holidays receive extra pay.

Can unused annual leave be encashed?

Annual leave encashment (cash-out) is not required by law during employment. It depends on company policy or contractual terms. Upon termination, the employer must pay for all unused annual leave. During employment, some companies allow partial encashment of leave exceeding a minimum balance. There is no statutory right to encash leave while employed.

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