Netizens debate if Singapore’s increased childcare leave means workload will fall on those without kids
Singapore’s enhanced childcare leave scheme has sparked an online discussion over whether employees without children could end up shouldering more work when colleagues take additional leave.
The debate followed Prime Minister (PM) Lawrence Wong’s National Day Rally (NDR) announcement on Sunday (23 Aug) that parents will receive more childcare leave, with the number of days increasing according to the number of children they have.
Under the new scheme, each parent will receive eight days of childcare leave for one child, 10 days for two children, and 12 days for three or more children.
Source: Made For Families website
The children must be Singaporean and aged 12 or below.
This is an increase from the current six days per year for parents with children aged six and below, and two days for those with children aged seven to 12.
Journalist raises concern over colleagues without children
In a Facebook post on 24 Aug, journalist Bertha Henson discussed the implications of the changes.
She questioned how additional leave would affect employees who have to cover for absent colleagues.
Citing a 2024 NDR parenthood-and-work survey, Henson mentioned that employees who had covered for colleagues on parental leave reported overwhelmingly negative experiences.
Source: Bertha Henson on Facebook
Under the new arrangement, a working couple with three young children could collectively receive 24 days of childcare leave a year.
“In a lean team, those days do not evaporate; the work migrates to someone else’s desk,” she wrote.
Additionally, Henson questioned whether employers would always be able to hire temporary workers to cover for staff on leave.
She argued that employees without children could therefore end up absorbing the additional workload.
Source: MS News
Netizen questions whether workload will fall on childless workers
One netizen responding to Henson’s post highlighted the same concern, reproducing the section of her analysis about colleagues without children.
The netizen pointed to Henson’s observation that the Government’s reimbursement to employers assumes businesses can engage temporary manpower when employees take childcare or other statutory leave.
The commenter questioned whether this would work in industries where temporary workers are difficult to find or require specialised skills.
Source: Facebook
The concern comes as the Government seeks to encourage employers to be more supportive of working parents.
PM Wong said employers should give parents confidence to take the leave they are entitled to and ensure that parenthood does not become a disadvantage in their careers.
“Remember: parents who feel supported are better able to give their best – at home and at work,” he said at the rally.
The Government will reimburse employers for the full duration of statutory child-related leave, including maternity, paternity, shared parental, adoption and childcare leave.
According to CNA, this is subject to a cap of S$500 per day or S$2,500 per week, including CPF contributions.
New scheme gives larger families more leave
PM Wong said the enhanced childcare leave was intended to give parents more flexibility to manage caregiving responsibilities.
He noted that older children continue to need parental care, although their needs may differ from those of younger children.
Under the current system, a working couple with three primary school-aged children could have a combined four days of childcare leave.
Source: Families for Life on Facebook
This will rise to 24 days under the new scheme.
“Hate to say this but singles at the workplace have to brace themselves for more work when parents start taking advantage of the longer parental/childcare leave,” Henson wrote.
“Makes you almost think about getting married and having children…no?”
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Featured image courtesy of MS News and adapted from Aflo Images on Canva. Picture on the right for illustrative purposes only.
