What employees need to know about the amended Child Development Co-Savings Bill

5 new initiatives to encourage Singaporeans to have more babies.

The Child Development Co-Savings (Amendment) Bill 2013, passed in Parliament on April 8 has introduced new benefits in support of a Pro-Family environment in Singapore.

According to Allen & Gledhill, to encourage employers to implement the new benefits which were first announced by the Ministry of Manpower on January 21, the Government will reimburse employers who voluntarily grant their employees the extended childcare, paternity and shared parental leave schemes from 1 January 2013 (for any Singapore citizen births), even before the enhancements are made mandatory through legislation.

Read on from Allen & Gledhill the 5 new initiatives as introduced under the amended bill.

1. Maternity protection: Working mothers will be entitled to maternity benefits if they are dismissed without sufficient cause or dismissed on grounds of redundancy at any stage of their pregnancy. Currently, they are protected only if they are dismissed without sufficient cause within a period of six months before delivery, or if they are dismissed on grounds of redundancy within a period of three months before delivery.

2. Shared parental leave: Working fathers will be entitled to share one week of the 16 weeks of maternity leave, subject to the agreement of the mother, if the mother qualifies for Government-paid maternity leave. The Bill also provides for the Government to reimburse the employer who grants the employee shared parental leave.

3. Paternity leave: The Bill introduces one week Government-paid paternity leave for a male employee who is the natural father or adoptive father of a Singapore citizen child born on or after 1 May 2013. The Bill also provides for the Government to reimburse the employer who grants the employee paid paternity leave, if certain requirements are satisfied. 

4. Extended childcare leave: An employee who is a parent of a Singapore citizen child between the age of seven and 12 will be entitled to paid extended childcare leave. The Bill also provides for the Government to reimburse the employer who grants the employee paid extended childcare leave.

5. Adoption leave: The Bill amends the Act to mandate employers to provide up to four weeks of Government-paid adoption leave for female employees who have adopted a child and meet the eligibility criteria. The Bill also provides for the Government to reimburse employers who grant their employees adoption leave. 

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