Child Development Co-Savings Act 2001 amended to implement enhancements to parental leave schemes
30 January 2024
The Child Development Co-Savings Act 2001 (“Act”) has been amended to implement enhancements to parental leave schemes (as announced at Budget 2023) with effect from 1 January 2024. These include the doubling of Government-paid paternity leave and unpaid infant care leave.
A summary of the key amendments to the Act is set out below:
- Government-paid paternity leave (“GPPL”) and Government-paid paternity benefit (“GPPB”): From 1 January 2024, GPPL has doubled from two weeks to four weeks on a voluntary basis, with employers who grant the additional GPPL to their employees to be reimbursed by the Government. The GPPB, for fathers who are ineligible for GPPL due to their employment arrangements, has also been similarly increased. The additional two-weeks of GPPL and GPPB (as the case may be) is available to eligible fathers whose child’s date of birth, estimated date of delivery, or formal intent to adopt falls on or after 1 January 2024.
- Unpaid infant care leave (“UICL”): From 1 January 2024, UICL has been increased by an additional six days per year, with each eligible parent being entitled to 12 days of UICL per year, for the child's first two years. The increased UICL is available to eligible parents with a child below two years of age and who is, or becomes, a qualifying child on or after 1 January 2024.
- Other amendments: The Act has also been amended to better improve operational clarity and efficiency, such as clarifying the conditions for the disbursement of relevant benefits. These amendments will allow for greater accountability of Government monies as more benefits are extended.
Reference materials
The following materials are available on Singapore Statutes Online sso.agc.gov.sg: