Childcare subsidies for stay-home moms, more maternity leave among proposals to support families

Singapore has introduced several new proposals aimed at easing the burden on families, including expanding childcare subsidies to include stay-at-home mothers, increasing maternity leave to six months, and allowing employees to use sick leave for caregiving purposes. These measures were outlined by Elysa Chen, representing the Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC, during an adjournment motion in Parliament on August 5. The proposals aim to address structural challenges faced by young couples and parents, focusing on time, care, work, and housing. Chen highlighted the inadequacy of the current childcare leave system, noting that parents with children aged 0 to 7 are entitled to only six days of leave annually, while those with children aged 8 to 12 receive two days. This, she argued, fails to account for frequent medical check-ups and illnesses affecting young children. For example, she noted that if one child contracts hand, foot, and mouth disease, families may struggle to manage the situation. To address this, she proposed increasing childcare leave entitlements and allowing employees to use personal sick leave to care for sick children or elderly relatives. In response, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office Indranee Rajah stated that the Marriage and Parenthood Reset Workgroup is reviewing many of Chen's recommendations. Indranee chairs the group, which is tasked with producing a comprehensive report by early 2027. The workgroup aims to develop a long-term strategy to enhance support for marriage and parenthood, encourage community involvement, and promote a broader societal shift. Recent data on marriage and birth rates have intensified the urgency of these efforts. In 2025, there were approximately 24,700 marriages, marking a 6.2 percent decline compared to 2024. Additionally, Singapore recorded 26,100 citizen births in 2025, a 10.8 percent drop from the previous year. Chen emphasized the need to go beyond financial incentives to tackle systemic issues. She proposed increasing the statutory minimum annual leave from seven days to allow more time for socializing and family bonding. She also advocated for making childcare subsidies universally accessible, regardless of employment status. Currently, higher-tier subsidies are only available to working mothers who meet specific hour requirements. This policy, she pointed out, disadvantages stay-at-home mothers and those with non-traditional work arrangements, such as freelancers. During a recent engagement session with the People’s Action Party (PAP) Women’s Wing, Chen shared a mother’s concern: “Why is unpaid caregiving at home less valuable than the contributions of a working mum?” She stressed that maternity leave should be restructured to benefit both employers and employees. Employers, she noted, find it difficult to secure maternity cover for 16 weeks, and mothers often feel pressured to return to work before they are emotionally prepared, risking job security. Chen proposed extending maternity leave to six months, fully funded by the government up to a salary cap, with an optional additional six months at half pay, also government-funded up to a cap. To improve access to preschool facilities, she suggested offering limited subsidies to underutilized childcare providers to operate shuttle services in high-demand areas, akin to school bus services. This, she explained, would help reduce geographical barriers, enhance mobility, and optimize the distribution of childcare resources. She also called for structured postpartum support through regular home visits, aiming to provide consistent assistance during the critical early stages of parenting. These measures reflect a growing recognition of the multifaceted challenges facing families and the need for holistic, long-term solutions.