About the scheme
Eligible working parents with children under 7 years old can enjoy up to 6 days of Government-Paid Childcare Leave (GPCL) per calendar year* (i.e. up to a total of 42 days per child).
Eligible working parents with children between 7 and 12 years old can enjoy 2 days of Extended Childcare Leave (ECL) per calendar year* (i.e. up to a total of 12 days per child).
| Employment type | If your youngest child is under 7 years old (GPCL) | If your youngest child is between 7 and 12 year old (ECL) |
|---|---|---|
| For employees |
Your employer will pay for the 1st to 3rd day of your GPCL, at the gross rate of pay. The Government will reimburse your employer for the 4th to 6th day of your GPCL, capped at $500 per day, or up to $1,500 a year. | The Government will reimburse your employer for all 2 days of your ECL, capped at $500 per day, or up to $1,000 a year. |
| For self-employed parents |
The Government will reimburse the 4th to 6th day of your GPCL, capped at $500 per day, or up to $1,500 a year. The first 3 days are not reimbursable. | The Government will reimburse all 2 days of your ECL, capped at $500 per day, or up to $1,000 a year. |
* By default, this will be based on calendar year (1 Jan to 31 Dec of the year). However, it can also be any 12-month period agreed between employer and employee. If you are self-employed or if there is no agreement with your employer, the 12-month period will be the calendar year by default.
- Your child’s age is counted based on the age your child will turn on his / her birthday within the relevant period that the leave is taken (e.g. if your child’s date of birth is on 1 Dec 2020 and the relevant period is from 1 Apr 2024 to 31 Mar 2025, your child is considered 4 years old in that relevant period).
Who is eligible
1. Child’s profile
- Your child is a Singapore Citizen (SC) at birth or becomes a SC within the calendar year* – Government-Paid Childcare Leave (GPCL) / Extended Childcare Leave (ECL) can only be consumed after the child obtains SC.
- For GPCL, your youngest child is under 7 years old at any time during the calendar year*.
- For ECL, your youngest child is between 7 and 12 years old (both ages inclusive) at any time during the calendar year*.
2. Parent’s profile
- For mothers, you are eligible regardless of marital status.
- For biological fathers, you are / were married to your child’s mother at some point between conception and your child’s birth (regardless of whether such marriage remains subsisting presently) - GPCL / ECL can only be consumed after you are married.
- For adoptive parents, you will be eligible after the Adoption Order has been passed.
- For foster parents, you will be eligible if you have a valid Letter of Identity.
- For step-parents, you will be eligible if you marry the child’s other parent within the calendar year*.
- For legal guardians, you will be eligible if you have a valid Legal Guardianship document.
3. Employment status
- For employees: You have served your employer for a continuous period of at least 3 months.
- If you have worked less than a year, your GPCL / ECL can be prorated according to how long you have worked with your employer (see How the entitlement is calculated below).
- For self-employed parents: You have been engaged in a particular trade, business, profession or vocation for a continuous period of at least 3 months, and have lost income from ceasing to be actively engaged during your GPCL / ECL period.
* By default, this will be based on calendar year (1 Jan to 31 Dec of the year). However, it can also be any 12-month period agreed between employer and employee. If you are self-employed or if there is no agreement with your employer, the 12-month relevant period will be the calendar year by default.
^ You may use the GPCL / ECL self-assessment tool for more details on your eligibility and entitlement.
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How the entitlement is calculated
Government-Paid Childcare Leave (GPCL)
- You have the option of taking the first entitlement of GPCL in the year that your child was born or in the subsequent year when your child turns 1 year old.
- If no GPCL was taken in both years, your first entitlement of GPCL is considered to have started in the year that your child turns 1 year old.
Example 1: First GPCL taken in the year that your child was born
| Child is born in 2020 | Year | Child's age |
|---|---|---|
| GPCL entitlement starts | 2020 | 0 years old |
| GPCL entitlement ends | 2026 | 6 years old |
Example 2: First GPCL taken in the year that your child turns 1 or in subsequent years
| Child is born in 2020 | Year | Child's age |
|---|---|---|
| GPCL entitlement starts | 2021 | 1 years old |
| GPCL entitlement ends | 2027 | 7 years old |
Extended Childcare Leave (ECL)
- You have the option of taking the first entitlement of ECL in the year that your child turns 7 years old or in the subsequent year when your child turns 8 years old.
- If no ECL was taken in both years, your first entitlement of ECL is considered to have started in the year that your child turns 8 years old.
Example 1: First ECL taken in the year that your child turns 7
| Child is born in 2020 | Year | Child's age |
|---|---|---|
| ECL entitlement starts | 2027 | 7 years old |
| ECL entitlement ends | 2032 | 12 years old |
Example 2: First ECL taken in the year that your child turns 8 or in subsequent years
| Child is born in 2020 | Year | Child's age |
|---|---|---|
| ECL entitlement starts | 2028 | 8 years old |
| ECL entitlement ends | 2033 | 13 years old |
You can check your past consumed childcare leave on the GPL Portal.
If you have more than one child, your Government-Paid Childcare Leave (GPCL) / Extended Childcare Leave (ECL) entitlement for each calendar year* is based on your youngest child’s age and when you start taking each leave type.
| Have a child <7 years old | Have a child between 7 and 12 years old | Leave entitlement |
|---|---|---|
| Yes | Yes | Up to 6 days of GPCL |
| Yes | No | Up to 6 days of GPCL |
| No | Yes | 2 days of ECL |
Example 1
If your youngest child is born in the calendar year* when you are eligible for up to 6 days of GPCL for an older child, counting the leave taken in that calendar year under your older child will allow you a longer period to consume your leave.
| Year 2024 | Older child born in 2020 | Youngest child born in 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Age | 4 | 0 |
| Eligible for | 6 days of GPCL | 6 days of GPCL |
| Total entitlement | Up to 6 days of GPCL | |
GPCL taken in 2024 will be counted under your older child. That means your younger child’s GPCL entitlement will start from 2025, when he / she turns 1 years old. This gives you an additional year to use your childcare leave.
Example 2
If your youngest child is born in the calendar year* when you are eligible for 2 days of ECL for an older child, your total entitlement for the year will depend on which leave type you take.
| Year 2024 | Older child born in 2016 | Youngest child born in 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Age | 8 | 0 |
| Eligible for | 2 days of ECL | 6 days of GPCL |
| Total entitlement | You have a choice to take either ECL or GPCL, but not both | |
To optimise the utilisation of your leave entitlement, use ECL for your older child in 2024, then switch to GPCL in 2025 when your youngest child turns 1 years old.
Example 3
For twins and multiple births in one confinement, your GPCL entitlement will conclude in the 8th year (whereas for a single child, the entitlement concludes in the 7th year). This allocation methodology maximises the period available for consuming GPCL benefits.
| Twins born in 2020 | Year | Twins' age |
|---|---|---|
| GPCL entitlement starts | 2020 | 0 |
| GPCL entitlement ends | 2027 | 7 |
| ECL entitlement starts | 2028 | 8 |
| ECL entitlement ends | 2033 | 13 |
* By default, this will be based on calendar year (1 Jan to 31 Dec of the year). However, it can also be any 12-month period agreed between employer and employee. If you are self-employed or if there is no agreement with your employer, the 12-month relevant period will be the calendar year by default.
If the employee has worked for the company for at least 3 months before leaving, the Government-Paid Childcare Leave (GPCL) will be prorated based on the completed months of service in the calendar year* of his / her resignation or termination. There is no proration for Extended Childcare Leave (ECL).
| Completed months of service | Eligible days of GPCL |
|---|---|
| 0-4 | 2 |
| 5-6 | 3 |
| 7-8 | 4 |
| 9-10 | 5 |
| 11-12 | 6 |
* By default, this will be based on calendar year (1 Jan to 31 Dec of the year). However, it can also be any 12-month period agreed between employer and employee. If you are self-employed or if there is no agreement with your employer, the 12-month relevant period will be the calendar year by default.
Example
If the company’s relevant period is based on the calendar year from January to December 2025 and the employee has worked for more than 3 months before resigning on 15 Mar 2025, the prorated GPCL will be based on 2 months (January and February 2025). Hence, the employee is entitled to 2 days of GPCL. However, the employer cannot claim for these 2 days, as the Government will only reimburse the 4th to 6th day of leave taken.
If the employee joins the company midway through the year, the Government-Paid Childcare Leave (GPCL) will be prorated based on the completed months of service in the calendar year* with the new company. There is no proration for Extended Childcare Leave (ECL).
| Completed months of services | Eligible days of GPCL |
|---|---|
| 0-2 | Not eligible |
| 3-4 | 2 |
| 5-6 | 3 |
| 7-8 | 4 |
| 9-10 | 5 |
| 11-12 | 6 |
* By default, this will be based on calendar year (1 Jan to 31 Dec of the year). However, it can also be any 12-month period agreed between employer and employee. If you are self-employed or if there is no agreement with your employer, the 12-month relevant period will be the calendar year by default.
Employees are entitled to take (prorated) GPCL with the new employer, regardless of the GPCL taken with the previous employer. However, the Government will only reimburse the 4th to 6th day of GPCL taken once per calendar year.
If the previous employer has already claimed all 3 GPCL days (i.e. 4th to 6th day) that calendar year, the new company cannot claim again, and any additional leave granted to the employee will not be reimbursed.
The first 3 days of Government-Paid Childcare Leave (GPCL) are paid by the employer or covered by yourself if you are self-employed. You can only claim the 4th to 6th days of your GPCL. If your previous employer has already claimed the 4th to 6th days of your GPCL, you will not be able to claim again as a self-employed parent, until the next calendar year.
You can check your past consumed childcare leave and view which leave days have been claimed on the GPL Portal.
How and when GPCL / ECL can be taken
1. Plan and notify
- Please discuss and agree on your leave plans with your employer as early as possible.
- You have the flexibility to use your leave to care for and spend time with your child. Supporting documents, such as a medical certificate, are not required.
- By default, Government-Paid Childcare Leave (GPCL) / Extended Childcare Leave (ECL) is based on the calendar year (1 January to 31 December). However, you and your employer can agree to use a different 12-month relevant period.
- Your GPCL / ECL benefits will start and end based on the year you first used each type of leave (see How the entitlement is calculated above).
- You have a yearly limit for childcare leave of up to 6 days per calendar year^ regardless of the number of children you have, covering all types of childcare leave (GPCL, ECL and leave under the Employment Act).
- If you have more than one child, your childcare leave benefits are not cumulative but based on your youngest child’s age (see How the entitlement is calculated above).
2. Important notes
- You cannot transfer your GPCL / ECL to your spouse, and any unconsumed GPCL / ECL cannot be carried over to the next calendar year^.
- When you leave your employment, GPCL / ECL can be used to serve your notice period for termination of employment, but you cannot bring forward your official last day (e.g. if your official last working day is 30 June and you are serving 1 month’s notice from 1 June, you are allowed to take GPCL / ECL during this period, but your official end date will still remain as 30 June).
- If you did not consume your GPCL / ECL (wholly or partially) before the termination of your employment, you will not be eligible for payment from your employer in lieu of leave taking, and unconsumed GPCL / ECL cannot be brought forward to your next employment.
* For GPCL, your employer will pay for the 1st to 3rd day of your GPCL at the gross rate of pay and the Government will reimburse your employer for the 4th to 6th day of your GPCL. For ECL, the Government will reimburse your employer for all 2 days of your ECL. Reimbursement is subject to a reimbursement cap (see About the scheme above).
^ By default, this will be based on calendar year (1 Jan to 31 Dec of the year). However, it can also be any 12-month period agreed between employer and employee. If you are self-employed or if there is no agreement with your employer, the 12-month relevant period will be the calendar year by default.
1. Record your GPCL / ECL dates
- For self-employed parents, Government-Paid Childcare Leave (GPCL) / Extended Childcare Leave (ECL) is based on the calendar year (1 January to 31 December).
- Your GPCL / ECL benefits will start and end based on the year you first used each type of leave. (see How the entitlement is calculated above).
- You have a yearly limit for childcare leave of up to 6 days per calendar year regardless of the number of children you have, covering all types of childcare leave (GPCL, ECL and leave under the Employment Act)
- If you have more than one child, your childcare leave benefits are not cumulative but based on your youngest child’s ages (see How the entitlement is calculated above).
2. Important notes
- You cannot transfer your GPCL / ECL to your spouse, and any unconsumed GPCL / ECL cannot be carried over to the next calendar year.
* For GPCL, the Government will reimburse the 4th to 6th day of your GPCL and the first 3 days are not reimbursable. For ECL, the Government will reimburse all 2 days of your ECL. Reimbursement is subject to a reimbursement cap (see About the scheme above).
How to apply and claim
1. Plan and notify
- Check that you have not exceeded your yearly entitlement for Government-Paid Childcare Leave (GPCL) / Extended Childcare Leave (ECL) using the Government-Paid Leave (GPL) Portal.
- Notify your employer on your leave arrangements early so that they can verify your eligibility and make alternative work arrangements.
2. Apply for GPCL / ECL
- Your employer may require you to submit your required supporting documents and for you to apply for GPCL / ECL according to your employer’s leave application procedures.
- Should you be applicable for GPCL / ECL under your employer, no submission of claim is required – your employer will submit any claims for reimbursement*, as applicable.
* For GPCL, your employer will pay for the 1st to 3rd day of your GPCL at the gross rate of pay and the Government will reimburse your employer for the 4th to 6th day of your GPCL. For ECL, the Government will reimburse your employer for all 2 days of your ECL. Reimbursement is subject to a reimbursement cap (see About the scheme above).
1. Record your GPCL / ECL dates
- Check that you have not exceeded your yearly entitlement for Government-Paid Childcare Leave (GPCL) / Extended Childcare Leave (ECL) using the Government-Paid Leave (GPL) Portal.
2. Submit your claim
- Submit your claims online via the Government-Paid Leave (GPL) Portal after you have commenced your Government-paid portion* of GPCL / ECL.
- You may submit a claim for reimbursement for any part of the GPCL / ECL that has been taken and for the Government-paid portion. There is no need to fully complete the Government-paid portion of your GPCL / ECL before you submit a claim, and multiple claims are allowed.
- Submission should be made no later than 3 months after the last date of the calendar year.
3. Check application status
- You may check your application status on the Government-Paid Leave (GPL) Portal.
- If additional information is required, an officer will follow up with you after your submission.
* For GPCL, the Government will reimburse the 4th to 6th day of your GPCL and the first 3 days are not reimbursable. For ECL, the Government will reimburse all 2 days of your ECL. Reimbursement is subject to a reimbursement cap (see About the scheme above).
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1. Verify employee’s eligibility
- Confirm your employee qualifies for Government-Paid Leave schemes before their leave starts.
- Check that your employee has not exceeded their yearly entitlement for Government-Paid Childcare Leave (GPCL) / Extended Childcare Leave (ECL) using the Government-Paid Leave (GPL) Portal.
- You may use MSF’s declaration form, or your own form / system to capture your employee’s declaration.
- This declaration form is to guide you in verifying the employee’s eligibility. You are not required to submit this form when submitting the claim for reimbursement.
- Employees have full flexibility to use their leave to care for and spend time with their children. Supporting documents, such as a medical certificate, are not required.
2. Submit reimbursement claim
- Submit your claim for reimbursement online via the Govenment-Paid Leave (GPL) Portal after your employee has taken the Government-paid portion* of GPCL / ECL.
- You may submit a claim for reimbursement for any part of the GPCL / ECL that has been taken, and for the Government-paid portion. Your employee does not need to fully complete the Government-Paid portion of their GPCL / ECL before you submit a claim, and multiple claims for the same employee are allowed.
- Submission should be made no later than 3 months after the last date of the calendar year^.
3. Check application status
- You may check your application status on the Government-Paid Leave (GPL) Portal.
- Please refer to our service standards for the processing time.
- A notification will be sent to you and your employee once your application is approved.
* For GPCL, the Government-paid portion is the 4th to 6th day of the GPCL. For ECL, the Government-paid portion is all 2 days of the ECL. Reimbursement is subject to a reimbursement cap (see About the scheme above).
^By default, this will be based on calendar year (1 Jan to 31 Dec of the year). However, it can also be any 12-month period agreed between employer and employee. If you are self-employed or if there is no agreement with your employer, the 12-month relevant period will be the calendar year by default.
