NDR 2026: Working parents to get 8 to 12 days of childcare leave a year, for kids aged 12 and below
Those with children aged 7 to 12 will get the same leave entitlements as those with younger children.
Singapore's Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced a revamped childcare leave scheme on Aug 23 during the National Day Rally. The new scheme aims to provide working parents with up to 12 days of childcare leave per year for children aged 12 and below, depending on the number of children they have. Parents with one child in that age group will receive eight days of leave, those with two children will get ten days, and parents with three or more children will get the maximum of 12 days.
This represents a shift from the current system where each working parent gets six days of childcare leave for children aged six and below, and two days of extended leave for children aged seven to 12. The new scheme consolidates existing leave schemes into a single one for working parents with Singaporean children aged 12 and below.
It aims to better support parents throughout the caregiving journey, rather than just at the birth of a child.
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