Parliamentary reply by Minister Indranee Rajah on Sweden’s Parental Leave Framework

Ms Valerie Lee:

To ask the Prime Minister and Minister for Finance whether the Government has studied Sweden’s parental leave framework and assessed (i) the applicability of selected features, including longer periods for utilising leave, transferability to grandparents or other caregivers, reduced working hours for parents, and separate leave for caring for sick children and (ii) which features could likely be adapted to Singapore’s context.

 Ms Indranee Rajah (for the Prime Minister):

In reviewing our parental leave policies, the Government has studied the design, features and provisions of similar policies in other countries, including Sweden. These provide useful reference points. In assessing which features and what could be adapted to Singapore, we consider differences in social, cultural and economic context, the balance between the needs of working parents and employers here, and fiscal implications.

There are both similarities and differences between Singapore’s parental leave policies and those of other countries, including Sweden. In Sweden, working parents are provided with paid leave until the child turns 12, some of which can be transferred to another carer, such as a grandparent. Sweden also compensates parents for time away from work to care for a sick child.

In Singapore, paid parental leave provides working parents with protected time to directly care for their children. Our provisions concentrate more paid leave in the child’s first year, when caregiving needs are greatest, through schemes such as Government-Paid Maternity Leave, Government-Paid Paternity Leave and Shared Parental Leave. Childcare leave supports parents’ continuing caregiving needs during the first year and beyond, to age 12. As childcare leave is unconditional, parents can use it for different caregiving needs, including caring for a sick child, without providing the child’s medical certificate.

Singapore’s policies reflect our own context and balance the needs of working parents and employers. We will continue to monitor and study other countries’ experiences as part of our regular reviews of support for working parents, and assess which features may be suitable for Singapore.