Singapore unveils measures to strengthen support for families

Singapore will strengthen support for families by increasing parental care leave, expanding financial assistance for children, reducing preschool costs and improving access to housing, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said on Sunday (23/8).

Under the new parental care leave scheme, every working parent will receive eight days of leave each year for one child aged 12 or below, 10 days for two children, and 12 days for three or more children, he said while delivering the 2026 National Day Rally speech.

Every newborn will receive direct financial support worth nearly 70,000 Singapore dollars (1 Singapore dollar = Rp13,943) or 55,141 US dollars (1 US dollar = Rp17,705) during childhood, including annual child credits and additional education-related assistance.

The Singapore government also plans to reduce the cost of full-day childcare to 150 Singapore dollars per month and infant care fees to 300 Singapore dollars per month, regardless of household income, while providing additional subsidies to lower-income families.

The government will also raise the household income ceiling for subsidised public housing and increase priority for families with a first-born child in obtaining new housing units, as part of broader measures to help Singaporeans build families.

Furthermore, the Singapore government will raise the income ceiling for subsidised Build-to-Order housing units to 16,000 Singapore dollars from 14,000 Singapore dollars, and for executive condominiums to 18,000 Singapore dollars from 16,000 Singapore dollars.

Wong said the measures aim to support parents throughout their child-rearing journey, rather than concentrating assistance only at the time of birth.