Childcare leave eligibility and entitlement
Eligible working parents of Singapore citizen children are entitled to 6 days of paid childcare leave per year. Parents of non-citizens can get 2 days of childcare leave a year in accordance with the Employment Act.
To find out your childcare leave eligibility and entitlement, select the statements that apply to you:
6 days per year of childcare leave
You are eligible for Government-Paid Childcare Leave (GPCL) if you meet the following requirements:
- Your child is below 7 years old.
- Your child is a Singapore citizen.
- For employees: you have served your employer for at least 3 continuous months.
- For self-employed: you have been engaged in your work for at least 3 continuous months and have lost income during the childcare leave period.
Entitlement
You and your spouse each get 6 days per year of childcare leave until the year your child turns 7 years old, regardless of the number of children you have.
Childcare leave is capped at 42 days for each parent.
You need to consume your yearly childcare leave entitlement by the end of that leave year. You cannot carry forward childcare leave meant for one year to the next.
Your leave is paid as follows:
| Paid by employer | Reimbursed by Government |
|---|---|
| First 3 days, at your gross rate of pay |
Remaining 3 days, capped at $500 per day, including CPF contributions |
By default, childcare leave is based on calendar year (1 January to 31 December). However, you may agree with your employer to use a different 12-month period such as your financial year or work anniversary.
If your child is born in August 2013, you can start your leave either in 2013 or 2014.
Your last 6 days of childcare leave will be as follows:
| If you start your leave in | Your last 6 days must be taken in |
| 2013 | 2019 |
| 2014 | 2020 |
How to apply or claim
For instructions on leave application or reimbursement claims, visit the Government-Paid Leave (GPL) Portal.
Find out more
To find out more about Government-Paid leave schemes, you can visit:
- Government-Paid Leave (GPL) Portal.
- Made For Families website for more on the Marriage and Parenthood Package.
Relevant legislation
Childcare leave is provided for under: