Singapore provides working parents with more benefits

The Singapore government has passed several amendments to the Child Development Co-Savings Act (CDCA), awarding more benefits to working parents.

Parents who were previously not eligible for paternity or adoption leave can now qualify for benefits up to S$30,000 (US$22,229), which will be calculated based on their income. 

“Some working fathers and adoptive mothers may not qualify for paternity leave or adoption leave under the CDCA, respectively, owing to their employment arrangements,” said Minister of State for Social and Family Development Sun Xueling.

The new amendments will ensure that the parents will receive cash in lieu of the government-paid share of leave, and is expected to benefit some 500 working fathers and adoptive mothers. 

Working parents of stillborn babies, who would have been Singaporean, will also now qualify for government-paid benefits, including maternity and paternity leave. 

“Parents of stillborn children need to recover physically and emotionally, and this move can help them in this difficult journey,” said Sun.

Stillborn or deceased children will also count towards the number of children a mother has had, which will in turn determine her eligibility for benefits. 

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“Depending on whether they are entitled to leave or benefits schemes, including them in the child order determination will allow more employers and working mothers to receive a higher quantum of reimbursement or payment,” she said. 

The minister added: “We hope that this will go some way to help mothers, and also encourage employers to be more supportive of working mothers with more children.”