Maternity Leave Singapore 2026: GPML, Paternity and Shared Leave

As at October 2026, eligible working mums in Singapore get 16 weeks of Government-Paid Maternity Leave (GPML) for a Singapore Citizen child, fathers get 4 weeks of Government-Paid Paternity Leave (GPPL), and parents of babies born from 1 April 2026 share a further 10 weeks of Shared Parental Leave (SPL). Together that is up to 30 weeks of paid leave in your baby’s first year. If your child is not a Singapore Citizen, you may instead be covered by 12 weeks of maternity leave under the Employment Act.

Below, we explain who qualifies, how pay and reimbursement work, how self-employed parents claim, and what childcare leave you get afterwards.

Parental leave in Singapore at a glance

All figures are as at October 2026. Check the MOM leave pages for the latest details.

Government-Paid Maternity Leave (16 weeks)

Who qualifies

• Your child is a Singapore Citizen.
• If you are an employee, you have worked for your employer for at least three continuous months before your baby’s birth.
• If you are self-employed, you have been working for at least three continuous months before the birth and lose income while on leave.

How you can take it

The first 8 weeks are usually taken as one continuous block, which can start up to four weeks before your due date. The remaining 8 weeks can, by agreement with your employer, be taken flexibly within 12 months of birth, for example as a phased return to work. Give your employer at least four weeks’ notice; failing to do so without a good reason can reduce your pay.

How pay works

You continue to receive your gross salary from your employer, who then claims back the Government-paid weeks through the Government-Paid Leave portal, up to $10,000 for every four weeks. For a first or second child, that means the employer bears the first 8 weeks; for a third or later child, the Government covers all 16 weeks.

Paternity leave (4 weeks)

From 1 April 2025, Government-Paid Paternity Leave became a mandatory 4 weeks for eligible fathers, up from the previous two weeks plus two voluntary weeks. To qualify, your child must be a Singapore Citizen, you must be lawfully married to the child’s mother between conception and birth (or within 12 months after), and you must have worked for your employer, or been self-employed, for at least three continuous months before the birth.

By default, paternity leave is taken as one continuous block within 16 weeks of the birth. If you and your employer agree beforehand, it can instead be taken flexibly at any time within 12 months of the birth. Pay is reimbursed by the Government up to $2,500 per week.

Shared Parental Leave (10 weeks from April 2026)

Shared Parental Leave is a newer scheme that was phased in over two years:

• Babies born 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026: 6 weeks to share.
• Babies born on or after 1 April 2026: 10 weeks to share.

By default, the 10 weeks are split equally, five weeks each. You can change how you divide them when you register your baby’s birth on LifeSG, for example if one parent is self-employed or wants more time at home. Both parents must meet the same eligibility rules as for maternity or paternity leave. Our Shared Parental Leave explainer walks through sample ways to split the weeks.

• SPL must be taken within 12 months of the birth.
• Give your employer four weeks’ notice unless they agree to less.
• If you and your employer cannot agree on a flexible arrangement, SPL defaults to one continuous block within 26 weeks of the birth.
• Pay is reimbursed by the Government up to $2,500 per week.

If you are self-employed

Self-employed parents, including freelancers and platform workers, can claim Government-Paid Leave for maternity, paternity and shared parental leave if they meet the three-month work requirement and lose income during the leave. You apply through the Government-Paid Leave portal after your leave, and the amount is based on your average income, up to the same caps. Keep records such as tax assessments, invoices or platform statements, as you may need to show your income and that you stopped working during the leave period.

Childcare leave and infant care leave

Current entitlements

• Childcare leave: 6 days a year per working parent if your youngest Singapore Citizen child is under 7. If your child is not a Singapore Citizen, you get 2 days under the Employment Act.
• Extended childcare leave: 2 days a year per parent if your youngest Singapore Citizen child is aged 7 to 12.
• Unpaid infant care leave: 12 days a year per parent while your Singapore Citizen child is under 2.

Announced changes

At the National Day Rally 2026, the Government announced that childcare leave and extended childcare leave will be merged into a single scheme for parents of children aged 12 and below: 8 days a year for one child, 10 days for two and 12 days for three or more, with the Government reimbursing employers for the leave. As at October 2026, the start date has not been announced, so the current rules still apply. Our childcare leave guide explains how to claim and what may change.

How to apply and claim

1. Tell your employer early. Put your expected due date and leave plan in writing, at least four weeks before you start.
2. Register the birth on LifeSG. This is also where you set how you and your partner share the SPL.
3. Your employer claims reimbursement for the Government-paid portion through the Government-Paid Leave portal, and you keep receiving your salary as normal.
4. Self-employed parents claim directly through the same portal after the leave.

Your employer cannot dismiss you, or give you notice of dismissal, while you are on maternity leave. If you are dismissed without sufficient cause during pregnancy, you may still be entitled to maternity benefits. If you run into problems, contact MOM or TAFEP.

Leave is only one part of the support available. Read our guide to the Baby Bonus and the new SG Child Support Package, and if you are going back to work while breastfeeding, see pumping at work in Singapore. For planning infant care or childcare once leave ends, our childcare options guide compares the choices.

Key takeaways

• Mums: 16 weeks of GPML for a Singapore Citizen child, if you have worked for at least three months before the birth.
• Dads: 4 weeks of mandatory GPPL since April 2025.
• Shared: 10 weeks of SPL for babies born from 1 April 2026, split five and five by default.
• Self-employed parents can claim for lost income through the Government-Paid Leave portal.
• Childcare leave is 6 days a year for now, with 8 to 12 days announced for the future.

Find more on leave, schemes and paperwork in our money and admin section.