Single unwed parents given same leave entitlement

In Acting Minister for Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF), Mr Chan Chun Sing's closing speech for the Ministry. He announced in his speech that the infant care and childcare leave provisions will be extended to single unwed parents.

“We understand that many of these families need additional support, especially single mothers. But single mothers are not a uniform group. There are unwed single mothers, divorced single mothers, and widowed single mothers. I appreciate the appeals by Mr Seah Kian Peng, Mr Janil Puthucheary, Ms Janice Koh, Ms Mary Liew, Ms Lee Li Lian, on behalf of single parents. MND recently announced measures to support divorced and widowed single parents.” said Mr Chan.

Previously, single unwed parents are only entitled to two days of childcare leave if the child (which include legally adopted or step children) is below the age of 7 years old.

With the new revision, single unwed parents will then receive the same child care leave support entitled to lawfully married couples. They get the same 6 days childcare leave for children below the age of 7 years old and 2 days leave for child between the ages of 7 and 12 years old.

This change will take in effect from first of May this year along with the additional 2 days of childcare which was just announced this year in the month of January.

Mr Chan says that the ministry will continue to show their support for the families under duress.