Written Answer to PQ on Utilisation rate of unpaid leave for unexpected caregiving needs

NOTICE PAPER NO. 1989 OF 2023 FOR THE SITTING ON 3 JULY 2023
QUESTION NO. 3048 FOR WRITTEN ANSWER

MP: Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang

To ask the Minister for Manpower for each year in the past five years, how many employees have used the unpaid infant care leave provided under the Tripartite Standard on Unpaid Leave for Unexpected Care Needs.

Answer:

1. All employers are required by law to provide six days of paid childcare leave to employees if their children are under seven years of age and are Singapore citizens. Employers are also required to provide six days of unpaid infant care leave per year in addition to the six days of paid childcare leave.

2. The Tripartite Standard (TS) on Unpaid Leave for Unexpected Care Needs recognises employers that go beyond these statutory requirements and voluntarily offer up to four weeks of unpaid leave per year to any employee whose child is below the age of two and are born preterm, with congenital conditions or as part of multiple births.

3. We do not track the utilisation of unpaid infant care leave.