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Parliamentary Replies

Parliamentary Reply by Minister Indranee Rajah on Increasing Adoption Leave

7 May 2026

Adoptive parents otherwise receive the same parental and childcare leave benefits as biological parents today. This includes the new 10-week Shared Parental Leave scheme, which was introduced last year to encourage shared parental responsibility, and provide more time for parents to care for and bond with their newborns.

FIFTEENTH PARLIAMENT OF SINGAPORE

ORAL REPLY

THURSDAY, 7 May 2026

Mr Foo Cexiang:

To ask the Prime Minister and Minister for Finance (a) whether the Ministry will consider increasing adoption leave from 12 weeks to 16 weeks, to align it with maternity leave; and (b) if not, what are the policy considerations militating against such an enhancement.

Ms Indranee Rajah (for the Prime Minister):

Biological mothers are entitled to 16 weeks of maternity leave, while adoptive mothers are entitled to 12 weeks of adoption leave. The duration of maternity leave is longer, by a month, as biological mothers require more time to recuperate physically from childbirth.

 Adoptive parents otherwise receive the same parental and childcare leave benefits as biological parents today. This includes the new 10-week Shared Parental Leave scheme, which was introduced last year to encourage shared parental responsibility, and provide more time for parents to care for and bond with their newborns.