Parliamentary Reply by Minister Indranee Rajah on Encouraging Uptake of Parental Leave

FIFTEENTH PARLIAMENT OF SINGAPORE

ORAL REPLY

WEDNESDAY, 6 May 2026

Ms Lee Hui Ying:

To ask the Prime Minister and Minister for Finance (a) whether the Ministry is studying international standards such as the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI 401-3) in shaping parental leave policies; (b) how such standards could inform policies for marriage and parenthood; and (c) whether there are plans to introduce corporate disclosure requirements to encourage uptake and normalisation of parental leave.

Ms Indranee Rajah (for the Prime Minister):

The Member had raised a related question at the 8 April Parliament sitting. Parental leave is intended to provide working parents protected time to care for and bond with their children. We have significantly enhanced these provisions in recent years, covering up to 30 weeks of paid parental leave. Beyond leave provisions, employers play a key role in fostering supportive workplace norms that enable parents to take their parental leave without judgement.

The Workgroup on Marriage and Parenthood (M&P) Reset will explore ways to further encourage employers to develop practices that support parental leave-taking.

We will study the Member’s suggestion as part of our efforts. This includes considering global standards and international practices, such as those related to company disclosures on parental leave policies and utilisation. While mandatory disclosure requirements may help to promote transparency and normalise good practices, any decision to adopt them must also take in account our local operating context, and compliance cost or impact on employers.