On or about 5 July 2021, a new Bill introduced will provide benefits to parents who were not eligible previously including those who adopt if their current employment does not qualify them for maternity and paternity leave.
Parliament passed the proposed Child Development Co-Savings (Amendment) Act on 2 August 2021.
Some working fathers and adoptive mothers may not qualify for paternity leave or adoption leave under the Child Development Co-Savings Act due to their employment arrangements. Parents will receive cash in lieu of the government-paid share of leave under the new amendment. Working parents of stillborn babies will qualify for government-paid benefits, including maternity and paternity leave as well as shared parental leave. Natural or adoptive fathers can receive cash benefits equivalent to 2 weeks of paternity leave. Reimbursement is capped at $2,500 per week, inclusive of Central Provident Fund contributions.
Adoptive mothers can receive cash benefits equivalent to 8 or 12 weeks of maternity leave, with reimbursement capped at $20,000 or $30,000, depending on how many children they have and on their average income.
The new law applies to parents whose formal intent to adopt or whose child’s date of birth or estimated date of delivery is on or after 1 January 2021. Parents must have worked for at least 90 days in the 12 months before their child’s birth or formal intent to adopt. Eligible parents may apply from 1 December 2021.
Parents who have unconsumed parental leave and have been retrenched will also be granted cash benefits.
Source: Today Online, Wong Pei Ting, accessed 5 August 2021.