By 2026, couples will be entitled to a combined 30 weeks of paid parental leave, with the government covering the cost of an additional 10 weeks. Starting April 2025, each parent will be mandated one month of leave.
Currently, fathers receive two weeks of leave, with a possible two-week extension at the employer's discretion. Mothers are entitled to 16 weeks, of which up to four can be shared with the father.
Wong emphasized the need to change traditional parenting roles, stating, "We must shift from the idea that fathers are breadwinners and mothers are primary caregivers."
The government will also offer financial support of up to 6,000 Singapore dollars ($4,500) over six months to low-income workers facing involuntary unemployment.
Additional measures include housing subsidies for low-income groups and educational reforms to maximize children's potential.
Wong, who became Singapore's fourth prime minister on May 15, succeeding Lee Hsien Loong's 20-year tenure, described these policy changes as necessary for realizing a "new Singapore dream."
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