Usage of Government-paid Paternity Leave and Shared Parental Leave by Fathers in Past Five Years
Ministry of Social and Family DevelopmentSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns a request by MP Louis Ng Kok Kwang for the percentage of fathers who did not utilize Government-Paid Paternity Leave (GPPL) and Shared Parental Leave (SPL) over the last five years. Minister for Social and Family Development Desmond Lee noted that since 2017, GPPL was doubled to two weeks and SPL increased to four weeks to support fathers in child-raising. Statistics show that GPPL take-up has risen since 2013, with more than half of eligible fathers in the 2017 cohort taking at least one day of leave. Minister for Social and Family Development Desmond Lee stated that while SPL usage is lower than GPPL, it provides parents with flexibility in managing their specific caregiving arrangements. The reported percentages are derived from employer claims and Baby Bonus applications, with 2018 figures likely to increase further as fathers have one year to utilize their leave.
Transcript
11 Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked the Minister for Social and Family Development for each year in the past five years, what percentage of fathers did not take any Government-Paid Paternity Leave and Shared Parental Leave respectively.
Mr Desmond Lee: Government-Paid Paternity Leave (GPPL) and Shared Parental Leave (SPL) were both introduced in 2013 to support fathers in playing a bigger role in child-raising. Since 2017, fathers have been eligible for two weeks of GPPL (doubled from one week previously), and up to four weeks of SPL (increased from one week previously), shared from their spouse's Maternity Leave.
The estimated percentages of fathers who did not take at least one day of GPPL or SPL in the last five years are shown in Tables 1 and 2 below.
The percentages are based on records of employers who have submitted claims for the leave taken by their employees, and the pool of eligible fathers based on working status of fathers as declared at the point of application for Baby Bonus.
The take-up of GPPL increased between 2013 and 2017. More than half of eligible fathers took GPPL in the 2017 cohort. The GPPL take-up for 2018 will likely increase further as fathers can take paternity leave up to one year after their child's birth, and employers then have up to three months after the leave was taken to submit claims. Consistent with the experience of other countries, fewer fathers take SPL than GPPL. Nevertheless, SPL provides parents the option to manage their caregiving arrangements flexibly.
