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Minister Indranee Rajah stated that reasons could include prioritisation of other life goals such as career, or concerns about whether they can manage the changes that come with parenthood.
Addressing Parliamentary questions, on behalf of Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Lawrence Wong, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office and Second Minister for Finance and National Development, Indranee Rajah, has talked about easing the pressures of raising children and supporting parents in Singapore through a combination of financial assistance, parental leave provisions, and practical caregiving support.
The Minister addressed the following concerns:
- Key drivers affecting women’s decisions to delay childbirth.
- Leave days taken by parents with children under seven due to childcare centre closures or their children falling ill.
- Reference data that determines the Baby Bonus quantum.
Here is what Minister Indranee had to share:
Practical support for new and expecting parents
Addressing concerns about why some women delay childbirth, Minister Indranee said decisions are often influenced by career priorities and apprehension about managing the demands of parenthood.
She reinforced the practical support for parents, particularly first-time parents, sharing: "From 1 April this year, parents will have 10 weeks of Shared Parental Leave (SPL) on top of maternity and paternity leave to give them more time to bond with their newborns and adapt to the new routines of parenting."
Healthcare and community-based support have also been expanded, with polyclinics now providing practical assistance such as antenatal education and postnatal recovery support, while Family Nexus sites offer guidance on parenting programmes.
"Parents can also visit the Families for Life Parenting Portal or Parent Hub to access a wide range of resources on topics ranging from pregnancy to child health, to parenting tips."
She assured the Government will continue to review and strengthen support measures for parenthood in Singapore.
Childcare leave usage and workplace flexibility
In response to questions on whether childcare leave provisions are sufficient, currently, a working parent with a Singaporean child under seven is entitled to six days of Government-Paid Childcare Leave (GPCL) annually, giving working couples a combined total of 12 days per year, on top of their annual leave.
While the Government does not track the specific reasons parents take childcare leave, available data shows that in 2023, "the proportion of eligible working mothers and fathers who took more than three days of GPCL was 58% and 53% respectively."
Among this group, the Minister added, the vast majority used their full six-day entitlement.
She snoted that parental leave provisions must balance parents’ caregiving needs with employers’ operational requirements. As such, beyond legislated leave, the Government is encouraging more flexible work arrangements to help parents manage work and caregiving responsibilities, pointing to the Tripartite Guidelines on Flexible Work Arrangement Requests.
Child-raising costs and Baby Bonus design
Minister Indranee also answered questions on whether the Government publishes official estimates of child-raising expenditure.
She shared that standalone cost estimates "would not be useful as child-raising expenditure varies greatly depending on a family’s needs, parents’ expectations and choices." Instead, the Government relies on household income and expenditure data, including child-related spending, as well as feedback from parents, when determining the quantum and payout structure of the Baby Bonus Scheme.
She highlighted that the Baby Bonus was enhanced in 2023 to "provide parents with sustained financial support until their child enters primary school", with a larger proportion of cash payouts paid to parents upfront to support the higher initial costs at birth and infancy, with regular payouts thereafter until the child turns six and a half years old.
Beyond the Baby Bonus Cash Gift, the Minister highlighted additional support through the Child Development Account (CDA), including the CDA First Step Grant at birth and government co‑matching of parents’ savings.
Preschool affordability also remains a key focus, she said. Currently, all Singapore Citizen children enrolled in licensed preschools are eligible for a Basic Subsidy of up to $300 per month for childcare and up to $600 per month for infant care. Eligible families can receive additional means‑tested subsidies, with higher support for lower‑income households.
Further, fee caps were lowered for both full‑day infant care and childcare in 2023, followed by further reductions for full‑day childcare in 2025 and at the start of 2026. Lower‑income families benefit from further targeted schemes such as the Child Care Financial Assistance and Start‑Up Grant.
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