The Singapore Parliament recently passed some changes to the Child Development Co-Savings Act that offers more time off for parents, whether they are adopting a child or having one the old fashioned way.
This time off is not just for mothers of newborns, but also includes more paternity leave for fathers. It has the intent of providing the necessary support for new parents during the time when they should be learning the ropes of caring for their child and bonding as a family unit, rather than worrying about going back to work.
Changes to Child Development Co-Savings Act
- All mothers will be given up to 16 weeks of leave after the birth of their child. It does not matter if they are married or single. This goes into effect on 1 January 2017.
- Mothers that adopt children will get an increase in the amount of paid leave starting next July. Previously, they had received four weeks of leave, but they will now receive up to 12 weeks of adoption leave.
- All fathers of newborns are going to be granted a paternity leave that doubles the previous amount of time off, from one week to two weeks, starting in the new year.
- Mothers will also have the option of gifting a portion of their maternity leave to their husbands starting in July 2017, as well. They can give up to four weeks of their total 16 that they receive under the act, to increase their husband’s paternity leave time off.
Benefits of Changes to Leave
One of the biggest benefits of this change is for fathers. These changes will allow new fathers to have up to eight weeks off during the first year of being a new parent. They can have the two weeks of paternity leave that this change enables them to have, as well as the four weeks that they can share with their wife. This combines with the paid childcare leave that gives them six days off and unpaid infant care leave that lasts for a week.