What Maternity Leave Am I Entitled to in Singapore?
GPML, paternity leave, shared parental leave, and MOM eligibility at a glance. A quick reference before your detailed rights conversation with HR.
GPML: Government-Paid Maternity Leave
The Government-Paid Maternity Leave (GPML) scheme gives employed mothers up to 16 weeks of paid maternity leave for the birth of a Singapore Citizen child. For non-SC babies, the entitlement is up to 12 weeks under the Child Development Co-Savings Act (CDCA).
| Weeks | Who Pays | Cap |
|---|---|---|
| Weeks 1 to 8 | Employer-paid | At your actual salary |
| Weeks 9 to 16 | Government-paid (reimbursed to employer) | Capped at S$10,000 per 4 weeks (S$20,000 total for weeks 9 to 16) |
SC baby only for 16 weeks: If your baby is not a Singapore Citizen, you are entitled to 12 weeks under the CDCA (first 8 weeks employer-paid, weeks 9 to 12 government-paid up to S$10,000/4 weeks). The extended 16-week entitlement applies only to SC babies. PRs who give birth to SC children qualify for the 16-week GPML.
Eligibility for GPML
To qualify for GPML (16 weeks for SC baby), you must meet all of the following:
- You are the natural mother (biological birth)
- The child is a Singapore Citizen at birth
- You have been employed by the same employer for at least 3 continuous months before your delivery date (or are a self-employed person who has been engaged in your business for at least 3 months)
- For weeks 9 to 16 government reimbursement: you must have delivered your 3rd or subsequent SC baby, OR your employer must agree to extend to weeks 9 to 16 (for 1st and 2nd SC baby, weeks 9 to 16 are government-paid at employer discretion if they agree to pay)
From 2024, weeks 9 to 16 are government-paid for all qualifying mothers of SC babies (1st, 2nd, 3rd+), not just for the 3rd and subsequent children. Confirm with MOM for the latest rules as these have changed in recent years.
Paternity Leave and Shared Parental Leave
Government-Paid Paternity Leave (GPPL)
Fathers of SC babies are entitled to 4 weeks of Government-Paid Paternity Leave. This is the current entitlement as of 2024 (it was 2 weeks previously and has been extended). Eligibility requirements mirror GPML: employed for at least 3 months continuously before delivery, married to the child's mother, child is a SC.
Shared Parental Leave (SPL)
Mothers can share up to 4 weeks of their 16-week GPML entitlement with the father. The shared weeks are government-paid. The father takes these weeks at the same government-paid cap of S$10,000 per 4 weeks. The mother's total entitlement remains 16 weeks in total, with the shared portion reducing her own remaining weeks accordingly.