Discussion Forum

Starting from 2 August 2012, employers and self-employed women can apply to the Government earlier to reimburse them for paid maternity leave.

The first part of the change allows employers to make monthly reimbursement claims from the Government after they have fulfilled their obligations for the first eight weeks of maternity leave for the first and second-order births. The Government foots the bill for the last eight weeks of a married mother’s four months of maternity leave.

The other part of the change will allow employers to submit monthly reimbursement claims for leave taken by the employees from the first month onwards for the third and subsequent child, where the Government pays for the entire four months of maternity leave.

The Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports (MCYS) said it revised the payment guidelines following a suggestion to make the scheme more business-friendly.  MCYS Minister of State, Halimah Yacob, said the move would help women in taking maternity leave “more flexibly” within one year from their child’s birth.

Read the TODAY article, “Maternity leave: Monthly claims allowed”, and share your views on what more can be done to help uplift Singapore’s fertility rate.