Key Features of GPCL and ECL

Government-Paid Child Care Leave (GPCL)

Working parents with a child below the age of 7 will be entitled to 6 days of paid childcare leave per year with an overall cap of 42 days.

Extended Child Care Leave (ECL)

Working parents with a child aged 7-12 years (inclusive) will be entitled to 2 days of paid extended childcare leave per year. The total extended childcare leave entitlement is capped at 12 days.

If Parent has More than 1 Child

If the employee has more than 1 child, the total child care leave entitlement will be based on the youngest child. For example:

(1) Parents with children in both age groups, i.e. those below 7 years, as well as those between 7 and 12 years (inclusive), will have total child care leave entitlement capped at 6 days per year.

(2) Parents with more than 1 child aged below 7 years will also have total childcare leave entitlement capped at 6 days per year.

GPCL

Childcare Leave Eligibility

A. Parents are eligible for GPCL if:

  • The child is a Singapore citizen
  • The youngest child is below 7 years old
  • For employees: has been working for current employer for at least 3 continuous months
  • For self-employed: has been engaged in self-employed work for at least 3 continuous months and has lost income during the childcare leave period

B. Parents of non-Singapore citizen children are still eligible if:

  • he child (including legally adopted children and step-children) is below 7 years old
  • The employee has been working for current employer for at least 3 continuous months

Childcare Leave Entitlement

A. Entitlement for Parents of Singapore citizen children

  • Both parents each get 6 days per year of childcare leave until the year the child turns 7 years old, regardless of the number of children who qualify.
  • Childcare leave has an overall cap of 42 days for each parent.
  • The yearly childcare leave entitlement has to be consumed by the end of that year. Unused childcare leave cannot be carry forwarded to the next year.
  • Childcare Leave is paid as follows:
    • The first 3 days will be paid by the employer.
    • The remaining 3 days will be paid by the Government
    • Payments are capped at $500 per day, including CPF contributions

B. Entitlement for Eligible Parents of non-Singapore citizen children

  • Both parents each get 2 days per year of childcare leave until the year the child turns 7 years old, regardless of the number of children who qualify.
  • Childcare leave has an overall cap of 14 days for each parent.
  • The yearly childcare leave entitlement has to be consumed by the end of that year. Unused childcare leave cannot be forwarded to the next year.
  • The 2-day Childcare leave is paid for by the employer

ECL

Extended Childcare Leave Eligibility

Parents are eligible for Extended Childcare leave if:

  • The youngest child is between 7 and 12 years old (inclusive)
  • The child is Singapore citizen
  • For employees: has been working for current employer for at least 3 continuous months
  • For self-employed: has been engaged in self-employed work for at least 3 continuous months and have lost income during the childcare leave period

Extended Childcare Leave Entitlement

  • The 2 days extended childcare leave will be paid for by the Government.
  • Payments are capped at $500 per day, including CPF contributions

Employer Reimbursement for Government-Paid Childcare Leave

For New Employees

Employers are strongly encouraged to go to the GPL portal to check whether there were any claims made for the employee within the same relevant period especially if the employee is new.

Before the employee goes on childcare leave:

File for a reimbursement

After the employee has used up his childcare leave entitlement for the year, submit the claim online to Government-Paid Leave Portal within 3 months.

Submit the claim for employees who have not used up their childcare leave entitlement for the year but have used a portion of the Government-paid leave at the end of the agreed 12-month period. This should be submitted no later than 3 months after the last day of the 12-month relevant period.

All late claims will not be considered.

Guidelines/Reminders/Restrictions on Childcare Leave

On availing the childcare leave:

  • Employees have the full flexibility to use the leave to spend time with their child.
  • A medical certificate for the child need not be produced.
  • Employees should give an early notice to the employer of the intent to take childcare leave.
  • Both the employee and employer should mutually agree on a suitable time to take the leave
  • Leave is subject to the employer’s approval. However, employers are strongly encouraged to grant the leave for matters that cannot be postponed, such as child immunisation or school registration.

Restrictions:

  • Transfer of childcare leave days between spouses.
  • Encash unused childcare leave; it will lapse at the end of each agreed 12-month period
  • Carry over any unused childcare leave to a new company, if there is a change of employer.
    • The employee will be eligible for childcare leave once he has worked at the new company for more than 3 months.
  • Use childcare leave to offset the notice period for termination of employment. However, if a childcare care leave is applied for during the notice period, the employer is encouraged to grant the leave. The leave taken will not add to the notice period.