Singapore raises childcare leave, launches S$70,000 child support package

SINGAPORE, 24 AUGUST 2026 —

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced parents will receive up to 12 days of childcare leave, doubling the current six days for children aged six and below.

Under the new rules, working parents get eight days of leave for one child, 10 days for two children, and 12 days for three or more children up to 12 years old. Parents of children aged seven to 12 will also receive leave for the first time, rising from two days to as many as 12 days under the updated policy.

The changes take effect next year. According to the Ministry of Social and Family Development, the move aims to help families with caregiving responsibilities amid rising costs.

Wong also unveiled the SG Child Support package, extending enhanced financial aid to all Singaporean children born or turning one to 17 in 2026. Each child will receive a S$10,000 Baby Gift, S$32,000 in Child Credits, a S$5,000 Child Development Account with dollar-for-dollar matching up to another S$5,000, and a S$10,000 top-up to their post-secondary education account.

Combined with existing schemes such as a S$5,000 MediSave grant and annual Edusave contributions, this totals nearly S$70,000 in direct support per child from birth to age 17, according to the prime minister’s office.

The income ceiling for Build-to-Order public flats will rise to S$16,000 from S$14,000, while the ceiling for executive condominiums will increase to S$18,000 from S$16,000. Wong said the changes address delayed marriages and rising incomes that have pushed more couples beyond the previous limits, ensuring access to subsidised housing for the majority.

On infrastructure, the government plans to merge islands south of Jurong Island—Semakau, Bukom, Pulau Sudong and smaller islets—into one larger landmass over coming decades. A second road link to Jurong Island and a new link to the western island are also under study.

Feasibility studies are underway for undersea tunnels to connect Pulau Tekong to the mainland after bridge options were ruled out due to busy shipping lanes. About 500 hectares of the reclaimed island—roughly the size of Toa Payoh—will remain available for civilian use after meeting military training needs.

The government will tighten safeguards for teenagers on social media, including possible increases to the minimum access age beyond 13 if platforms fail to implement stronger age-verification systems. Platforms serving users 13 and above must also introduce measures to limit addictive design features such as endless scrolling.

Wong acknowledged the rapid pace of AI and technological disruption, pledging support for small businesses to adopt new tools while highlighting Singapore’s autonomous vehicle rollout as an example of proactive adaptation. He cautioned that Singapore’s role as a major re-export hub limits its ability to police entire supply chains, particularly under US Section 301 tariffs targeting forced labour and alleged rerouting of Chinese goods through Southeast Asia.

The announcements follow a week of geopolitical volatility in which Singapore’s Ministry of Trade and Industry trimmed 2025 GDP growth to 2% to 3% from a prior 2% to 4%, citing slower global trade and manufacturing activity. Gross domestic product expanded 2.7% year-on-year in the second quarter, slower than the 3.4% recorded in the first quarter.

Related: Singapore