Singapore Updates Parental and Shared Parental Leave Policies

1. Singapore Updates Parental and Shared Parental Leave Policies Singapore has made big changes to parental leave: As of April 2025, fathers now receive more paid time off, and both parents can access a new shared leave scheme. These updates were announced during the 2024 National Day Rally and are being rolled out in two stages: Phase 1 took effect on 1 April 2025, and Phase 2 is set to begin on 1 April 2026. Government paid parental leave (GPPL) Before 1 April 2025, eligible working fathers received 2 weeks of GPPL, with an additional 2 weeks available if their employer agrees (though this was voluntary). As of 1 April 2025, that extra 2 weeks will no longer depend on employer approval — all eligible fathers with Singaporean children born on or after that date will receive 4 weeks of GPPL as a statutory benefit. Employers will still be reimbursed by the government for the full four weeks. This expansion makes it even more important for HR teams to track entitlements accurately. You can use Adaptive Pay’s leave management system to calculate usage and apply the correct eligibility rules, and then match leave records with payroll and compliance needs. New shared parental leave scheme. Before April this year, mothers could transfer up to 4 weeks of their 16-week maternity leave to the father. But on 1 April 2025, this system was replaced with a dedicated Shared Parental Leave (SPL) entitlement that’s separate from maternity and paternity leave. • Right now, parents can share 6 weeks of paid shared parental leave (SPL). This is Phase 1 of the rollout. • On 1 April 2026, the leave will increase to 10 weeks under Phase 2. This leave is split between both parents and must be used within the first year of the child’s birth. It adds to (rather than replaces) existing GPML and GPPL entitlements. Key details to note • SPL must be consumed within 12 months of the child’s birth. If parents and employers can’t agree on how to split the leave, it defaults to a continuous block within the first 26 weeks. • For children born between 1 Apr 2025 and 31 Mar 2026, the 6 weeks will default to 3 weeks each. For births from 1 Apr 2026 onward, 10 weeks will be split 5 and 5. Any changes must be made within four weeks after birth unless both parents and their employers agree otherwise.

2. • The government will pay for all SPL weeks, up to S$2,500 per week (or around S$10,000 monthly). Be sure to review and update your leave policies to reflect the new SPL rules to prevent disputes or confusion. Use our leave management system to track each parent's usage and record approvals in real time. This can give your managers immediate visibility and help employees understand their entitlements. It also keeps your records audit-ready without the back-and-forth. How Adaptive Pay’s leave management system can help you stay on top of this With new parental leave rules already in effect and more changes on the horizon, it’s time to switch from spreadsheets to a reliable leave management system that makes it easier to stay compliant while supporting employees as they manage their entitlements. Adaptive Pay’s leave module is designed to simplify your workflow and make leave tracking easy for both managers and staff. • Employees can apply for paternity or shared parental leave directly through the app, whether they’re in the office or working remotely. Managers receive instant notifications and can review and approve the request on the spot. • No more bouncing between systems. Adaptive Pay automatically syncs approved leave with your payroll and attendance modules, so you get accurate calculations for paid parental leave and real- time updates on entitlements. There’s no need to reconcile records manually. • Adaptive Pay lets you tailor leave rules to fit your company’s structure— whether that means different approval levels, custom entitlements, or carry-forward limits. You can also update settings without disrupting the rest of your HR processes as policies change. • Your managers can generate reports to see who’s on leave and how those absences affect staffing levels. This makes it easier to plan ahead. Book a demo to see how our leave management system works.