Increase in Childcare Leave and Enhanced Government Reimbursement
At Singapore’s National Day Rally 2026 on 23 August, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced that the Government will enhance childcare leave entitlements and Government reimbursement for child-related leave to provide greater support for working parents and employers.
Increase in Childcare Leave
The current Childcare Leave (CCL) and Extended Childcare Leave (ECL) schemes will be merged into a streamlined Childcare Leave scheme for working parents with Singapore Citizen children aged 12 and below.
Under the announced enhancements, each working parent will be entitled to childcare leave based on the number of Singapore Citizen children aged 12 and below:
The enhanced scheme is intended to give working parents more protected time to care for their children.
Currently, eligible working parents whose youngest Singapore Citizen child is aged 6 and below receive 6 days of Childcare Leave per year, while eligible working parents whose youngest Singapore Citizen child is aged 7 to 12 receive 2 days of Extended Childcare Leave per year.
More details, including the implementation date and eligibility criteria for the new scheme, will be released at a later stage.
Enhanced Government Reimbursement
The Government has also announced enhanced support for employers by covering the cost of all child-related leave — including Government-Paid Maternity Leave (GPML), Government-Paid Adoption Leave (GPAL), Government-Paid Paternity Leave (GPPL), Shared Parental Leave (SPL) and Childcare Leave (CCL) — for all child orders, up to the applicable reimbursement limits.
Under the current Government-Paid Childcare Leave scheme, employers pay for the first 3 days of eligible childcare leave, while the Government reimburses the remaining 3 days, capped at $500 per day, including CPF contributions.
Under the announced changes, the Government will reimburse employers for the full duration of Childcare Leave for parents of Singapore Citizen children, up to the reimbursement limit.
What Does This Mean for Employers?
The upcoming changes will provide greater Government support for child-related leave while giving eligible working parents more protected time for caregiving.
Employers should be prepared to review their existing HR policies and administrative processes once the implementation details and eligibility criteria for the new scheme are confirmed.
Businesses may need to review and update their:
- Childcare leave policies and procedures
- Employee Handbooks
- Payroll and leave administration processes
- Government reimbursement claim procedures
Preparing ahead can help businesses transition smoothly when the enhanced Childcare Leave scheme takes effect.
How RT ASEAN Can Help
RT ASEAN can support businesses in preparing for the upcoming changes through:
- Assistance with the submission of Government reimbursement claims
- Revision or drafting of Employee Handbooks
- Payroll and other HR services
For more information or assistance, get in touch with us:
Tel: 6226 0080
Email: payroll@rtasean.com
Please note that the enhanced Childcare Leave scheme has been announced but is not yet in effect. More details, including the implementation date and eligibility criteria, will be released by the Government at a later stage.
Read more:
Made For Families – NDR 2026: Supporting Families
https://www.madeforfamilies.gov.sg/ndr-2026-supporting-families
Ministry of Manpower – Childcare Leave Eligibility and Entitlement
