Singapore's government-paid parental leave expansion signals urgent demographic concerns. Starting April 1, the city-state will offer up to 30 weeks of paid leave to new parents, combining 16 weeks maternity leave, four weeks paternity leave, and ten weeks of shared government-funded leave. This represents one of Asia's most generous packages, with government coverage capped at SGD2,500 weekly. The policy targets Singapore's historic low birth rate, reflecting broader economic challenges facing developed Asian economies. Eligibility requires children to be Singapore citizens and parents to have worked continuously for at least three months. The flexible structure allows parents to reallocate leave through the LifeSG app within four weeks of birth.
