Government-Paid Shared Parental Leave

• 1. How do I apply for Shared Parental Leave?

  Click on the Pro-Family Leave website for more details on the application process.

• 2. What is the duration within which I must use my Shared Parental Leave? Must I take it immediately when my child is born?

  The Shared Parental Leave must be taken in one continuous block within 12 months from the child's birth. You can start from the day your child is born (for fathers), or any time before he or she turns 12 months old.

• 3. Will the father be paid at his salary or the mother's salary when he takes Shared Parental Leave?

  The father will be paid at his salary, capped at $2,500 per week.

• 4. My spouse and I work different numbers of days per week. How is one week of Shared Parental Leave defined?

  The leave allocation of “one week” follows the work week of the respective working parent.

   

  For example, let's consider how a mother with a five-day work week will share a week of Government-Paid Maternity Leave with her husband who has a six-day work week:

   

  Work Week	Mum with a five-day work week	Dad with a six-day work week
  Duration of leave after sharing one week of Government-Paid Maternity Leave	16 weeks – 1 week = 15 weeks of Maternity Leave based on a five-day work week	+ 1 week of Shared Parental Leave based on a six-day work week (i.e. six days)

• 5. Can I take Shared Parental Leave flexibly on different days, rather than as a continuous block or blocks of weeks?

  The leave is to be taken within 12 months from your child's date of birth (inclusive of date of birth), and in a continuous block or blocks of weeks. If there is mutual agreement between the employer and employee, it can be taken flexibly e.g. on a daily basis.

• 6. Can the mother and father take Government-Paid Maternity Leave/Adoption Leave for Mothers and Shared Parental Leave respectively at the same time?

  Yes, both parents can take Government-Paid Maternity Leave/Adoption Leave and Shared Parental Leave at the same time.

• 7. I have just started work with a new employer. Can I apply for Shared Parental Leave?

  There is no minimum employment duration that the father has to meet before he is eligible for Shared Parental Leave.

   

• 8. If my child is not a Singapore Citizen at birth, but obtains citizenship subsequently, can I qualify for Shared Parental Leave?

  If your child is not a Singapore citizen at birth, you may still qualify if he or she obtains Singapore citizenship within 12 months from the date of birth (inclusive of date of birth), and you meet the other criteria. Shared Parental Leave can only be taken after your child obtains Singapore citizenship and within 12 months from your child's date of birth (inclusive of date of birth).

• 9. Can Shared Parental Leave be shared in days instead of week(s)?

  Shared Parental Leave can only be allocated in 1,2,3,4 blocks. Once it is allocated, you can choose to take the leave in a continuous block, or in days, as long as you and your employer are in mutual agreement. 

• 10. Why are parents not allowed to change the number of Shared Parental Leave weeks shared once it is submitted?

  Couples have the flexibility to declare allocation of Shared Parental Leave to the father, any time before the child turns 12 months old. This enables them to discuss and decide on an arrangement that suits their needs. Couples should consult their respective employers before deciding on the allocation. If fathers are unsure whether they can commit to taking the leave, they can wait until they have more certainty before making the declaration, within 12 months from the day the child is born.

  Given that this leave scheme involves multiple parties, this approach takes into account parents' needs for flexibility, and considers the business needs of employers.

  Shared Parental Leave election can only be amended/cancelled in the following circumstances:

  1. The child’s caregiving arrangements are, or are to be changed; 

  2. The child’s father is unable to consume his entitlement due to exigencies of his work;

  3. The allocation was made in error, or;

  4. Termination of father’s employment.

  Please note that for revocations, only whole week(s) of unconsumed leave is returned to the mother. Any leave less than whole week(s) will be forfeited.

  If you wish to make a cancellation, please e-mail contactus@profamilyleave.gov.sg.

• 11. I made a declaration to share my Government-Paid Maternity Leave or Adoption Leave with my husband. However, he has resigned/was retrenched/terminated and is unable to take the Shared Parental Leave. Can I cancel the declaration?

  If the father's employment is terminated, any whole weeks of unutilised Shared Parental Leave will be returned to the mother. To return the revoked leave to your spouse, please e-mail contactus@profamilyleave.gov.sg with the following documents:

  1. Letter of resignation/retrenchment/termination;
     and
  2. E-mail/letter from your employer to show the unused Shared Parental Leave

• 12. How does an employer check if his employee's wife has agreed to share a portion of her Government-Paid Maternity Leave or Adoption Leave with him?

  Employers can check whether the employee’s wife has made a declaration to share her leave on the Pro-Family Leave website.

• 13. How do employers and the self-employed claim for reimbursement of Shared Parental Leave?

  Employers and self-employed persons can make reimbursement claims at the Pro-Family Leave website.

For more answers to frequently asked questions by employers or about specific employment arrangements, please refer to the MOM website.