Singapore Statutory Childcare Leave
Working parents in Singapore are entitled to childcare leave if their child is below 7 years old. The amount of such childcare leave entitlement depends if they are covered under the Childcare Development Co-Savings Act (CDCA) or the Employment Act.
Under the Childcare Development Co-Savings Act (CDCA)
The CDCA covers working parents for Childcare Leave if all 4 conditions are met:
- If the child is a Singapore Citizen;
- If the biological parents are lawfully married, including divorced or widowed parents;
- If the parent is a full-time, part-time, temporary or contract employee, including managerial, executive or confidential staff; and
- If the parent has worked in the company for at least 3 continuous months.
If you are a self-employed parent, you will be entitled to the Childcare Leave if all 3 conditions are met:
- If the child is a Singapore Citizen;
- If the parent’s business has operated continuously for at least 3 continuous months; and
- If the parent has lost income as a result of not engaging in the business during the childcare leave period.
Under the Employment Act
Employees who do not meet all the criteria for CDCA may, in the alternative, be covered by the Employment Act if they are eligible.
To qualify for Childcare Leave under Employment Act, the parent must have worked in the company for at least 3 continuous months.
Childcare Leave Entitlement
Under The CDCA, the following is an employee’s legal entitlement in respect of Childcare Leave:
| Full-time employee | 6 days per year regardless of the number of children. | ||||||||||||||||
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| Part-time, temporary and contract employee | 2 days minimum per year.The entitlement should be pro-rated based on number of working hours to an equivalent full-time employee. | ||||||||||||||||
| New employee (less than 1 year) |
2 days minimum per year.The entitlement should be pro-rated based on duration of employment.
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| Employee leaving the company | 2 days minimum per year.The entitlement should be pro-rated based on number of completed months of service in the last year.
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Under The Employment Act
| Full-time employee | 2 days per year regardless of the number of children. |
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| Part-time, temporary and contract employee(worked at least 3 months) | The entitlement should be pro-rated based on number of working hours to an equivalent full-time employee. |
The Ambit of Childcare Leave
Childcare Leave is meant for you to spend time with your child, e.g. accompany child on the first day of school, care for a sick child, bring the child for immunisation, etc.
Any unused childcare leave will lapse at the end of the agreed 12-month period and cannot be converted to cash. Further, if an employee changes employer, the childcare leave cannot be transferred to the new company. Childcare leave is also not transferable between spouses.
Stay on top of statutory requirements in Singapore's Employment Act
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