Maternity leave is a vital provision offered by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) in Singapore, aimed at assisting female employees during the childbirth period and fostering a harmonious work-life balance.
Maternity Leave in Singapore: An Overview
This FAQ serves to introduce MOM’s maternity leave policy, covering key aspects such as eligibility, duration, payment, and other pertinent details. It is crucial for both employees and employers to grasp the rights and entitlements associated with maternity leave, regardless of the child’s citizenship status.
It is recommended to consult the official MOM website for the latest and comprehensive information, as the following summary is based on available data from that source.
Frequently Asked Questions about MOM’s Maternity Leave and Government Reimbursement
What is MOM’s maternity leave policy?
MOM refers to the Ministry of Manpower in Singapore. Maternity leave is a statutory entitlement provided to female employees to ensure they have sufficient time to recover from childbirth and bond with their newborn child.
What is the maternity leave policy of the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) in Singapore?
The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) in Singapore provides maternity leave as a statutory entitlement for female employees. This policy is designed to allow women sufficient time to recover from childbirth and establish a bond with their newborn child.
Who is eligible for maternity leave?
Maternity leave is available to female employees covered under the Employment Act. This entitlement extends to all female employees, regardless of their nationality, provided they have served their employer continuously for a minimum of three months leading up to the birth of their child.
If the Child is a Singapore Citizen
How long is the maternity leave?
The maternity leave entitlement for employees whose child is a Singapore citizen is 16 weeks. This leave can be taken either in one continuous block or divided into two separate blocks, with the second block not exceeding 8 weeks. The first 8 weeks must be taken as a continuous block, while the remaining 8 weeks can be taken either continuously or non-continuously, subject to mutual agreement between the employer and employee.
Is maternity leave paid?
Yes, maternity leave is a paid benefit. During the maternity leave period, the employee is entitled to receive her regular salary, up to a maximum of 16 weeks
What is the reimbursement from the government (GPML)?
The reimbursement structure under the GPML (Government-Paid Maternity Leave) scheme varies depending on the child order:
For the 1st and 2nd child order:
- The employer pays for the first 8 weeks of GPML at the employee’s gross rate of pay.
- The government reimburses or pays for the remaining 9th to 16th week of GPML, up to a maximum of $10,000 every 4 weeks or a total of $20,000 per child order.
For the 3rd and subsequent child order:
- The government reimburses or pays for the full 16 weeks of GPML, up to a maximum of $10,000 every 4 weeks or a total of $40,000 per child order.
If the Child is Not a Singapore Citizen
How long is the maternity leave?
The maternity leave entitlement, in the case where the child is not a Singapore citizen, is 12 weeks. This leave can be taken either in one continuous block or divided into two separate blocks, with the second block not exceeding 4 weeks. The first 8 weeks must be taken as a continuous block, while the remaining 4 weeks can be taken either continuously or non-continuously, subject to mutual agreement between the employer and employee.
Is maternity leave paid?
It is important to note that maternity leave is paid only for Singapore citizen children. If the child is not a Singapore citizen, the employer is not legally obligated to provide paid maternity leave.
However, the employer is required to pay the employee’s regular monthly salary for the first 8 weeks of leave if the employee meets the following criteria:
- The employee has been employed for a continuous period of at least 3 months before the birth of the child.
- The employee has fewer than 2 living children of their own at the time of delivery. In the case of multiple births (e.g., twins, triplets, etc.) during the first pregnancy, the employer is still required to pay 8 weeks of maternity leave for subsequent pregnancies.
- The employee has provided the employer with at least 1 week’s notice before going on maternity leave and informed them as soon as possible about the delivery. Failure to provide timely notice may result in the employee receiving half of the payment during maternity leave, unless there is a valid reason for not giving the notice.
The last 4 weeks of maternity leave are unpaid. Whether the employer chooses to pay the employee during this period depends on the terms stated in the employment contract or mutual agreement between the employer and employee.
Eligibility
To be eligible for maternity leave benefits, the following criteria must be met:
- The child’s date of birth or estimated date of delivery falls on or after January 1, 2017.
- The child is either a Singapore citizen at birth or becomes a Singapore citizen within 12 months from the child’s date of birth (including the date of birth itself).
- For employees: The employee has served their employer continuously for a period of at least 3 months before the child’s date of birth.
- For self-employed mothers: The mother has been actively engaged in a specific trade, business, profession, or vocation for a continuous period of at least 3 months before the child’s date of birth and has experienced a loss of income due to ceasing active engagement during the GPML (Government-Paid Maternity Leave) period.
Application
To apply for maternity leave, the employee must do the following:
- The employee should provide their employer with at least 1 week’s notice before commencing maternity leave and inform them promptly about their confinement.
- It is necessary to submit the declaration form (GPML1) to the employer, along with all required supporting documents, at least one week before the start of the GPML. If this is not feasible, the declaration form should be submitted within one month from the child’s date of birth. Employers may have their own declaration form or system in place for employees to declare their eligibility.
- The employee should follow their employer’s designated leave application procedures when applying for GPML.
Employees may access the declaration form through this link.
Sources:
https://www.mom.gov.sg/employment-practices/leave/maternity-leave/eligibility-and-entitlement
https://www.profamilyleave.msf.gov.sg/schemes/maternity-leave