As Singapore’s Total Fertility Rate (TFR) plunges, the Government is aiming to provide stronger, more sustained support for parents.
Thus, it is implementing a new SG Child Support Package that will provide each Singaporean child with up to S$62,000, as well as increasing working parents’ childcare leave to up to 12 days.
During his National Day Message this year, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong teased a “major review” of how Singapore supports families.
These plans were explained in detail during his National Day Rally speech on Sunday (23 Aug), where he announced the new SG Child Support Package, which will take the place of the existing Baby Bonus Scheme and Large Families Scheme.
The “simpler” scheme means every Singaporean child will receive the same level of support, not just at birth but as they grow up till the age of 17, he said.
Source: Prime Minister’s Office, Singapore on YouTube
The new scheme starts at birth, when a S$10,000 Baby Gift will be provided in two tranches within 12 months of the birth of a child.
The newborn will also receive a S$5,000 First Step Grant into their Child Development Account (CDA). Parents who save into the CDA will receive dollar-for-dollar co-matching from the Government up to S$5,000.
The child will then get S$2,000 of Child Credits in cash yearly, from one to 16 years old — a total of S$32,000.
When the child turns 17, they will then get a S$10,000 top-up to their Post-Secondary Education Account (PSEA).
Added to the SG Child Support Package will be a S$5,000 MediSave Grant for newborns and annual Edusave contributions totalling about S$2,500 over the child’s primary and secondary school years.
Source: National Population and Talent Division
Mr Wong said this translates to almost S$70,000 of direct financial support from the Government per child.
Source: Prime Minister’s Office, Singapore on YouTube
In an effort to give working parents more time and greater flexibility to care for their children, they will enjoy more childcare leave, Mr Wong said.
Noting that much of the support is currently concentrated around birth, the Government wants to support parents “more consistently” throughout their child-raising journey.
Thus, those with Singaporean children below the age of 13 will get eight, 10 or 12 days of childcare leave yearly, depending on whether they have one, two or three such young children.
Currently, each parent with children aged six or below gets six days of childcare leave a year, or two days if they are between seven and 12 years old.
After the new changes, a working couple with three primary-school-aged children enjoy 24 days of childcare leave, compared with four days currently.
Source: Prime Minister’s Office, Singapore on YouTube
As for their employers, the Government will reimburse them for the full duration of all child-related leave schemes, up to a reimbursement cap.
This will reduce the financial burdens on employers, Mr Wong said, urging them to be “more supportive” of their employees who are parents.
They should also help them settle back into work afterwards, he maintained, adding:
Make sure that becoming a parent never becomes a disadvantage in someone’s career.
The National Population and Talent Division (NPTD) of the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) encouraged employees to discuss leave plans with their employers early where possible, so that caregiving needs and workplace operations can be managed well.
In a press release on Sunday, NPTD said that the enhancements were shaped by feedback from Singaporeans.
They are in response to “practical concerns” from parents, including:
Other measures announced were a significant reduction in fees at Government-supported childcare and infant care centres, and an additional ballot chance at Build-To-Order (BTO) and Sale of Balance Flats (SBF) for first-timer families with or expecting a Singaporean child aged 18 and below.
A fuller set of recommendations will be released by the interagency Marriage and Parenthood Reset Workgroup in early 2027.
Also read: PM Wong promises ‘major review’ to support S’pore families in 2026 National Day message
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Featured image adapted from Prime Minister’s Office, Singapore on YouTube and MS News.