Government-Paid Maternity Leave (GPML)
Working mothers (including self-employed) can enjoy maternity leave benefits under the GPML scheme. This will help provide sufficient time to recover from childbirth and care for newborns.
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You can start your maternity leave
4 weeks before the delivery date and
no later than the delivery date. All maternity leave must be taken within 12 months from your child's date of birth (inclusive of date of birth).
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Your
first 8 weeks of maternity leave must be taken in one continuous block (including weekends and public holidays). The
last 8 weeks can be taken
flexibly, if there is
mutual agreement between your employer and yourself.
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For your 1st and 2nd child order (see definition below), the Government will pay for the 9th to 16th week of your maternity leave. It is
capped at $10,000 per 4 weeks or a total of $20,000 per child order.
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For your 3rd and subsequent child order, the Government will pay for
all 16 weeks of your maternity leave. It is
capped at $10,000 per 4 weeks or a total of $40,000 per child order.
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You
cannot use your maternity leave to
offset the
notice period when you leave your job.
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Mothers who had
stillbirths are also eligible for GPML if the requirements are met.
What is Child order?
It refers to the number of birth
event(s)1 (regardless of child’s nationality) by the mother and
adopted-in children2. It excludes
stepchildren, stillbirths and children who have passed away or are adopted-out
before the birth or FIA3 of the child whom you are seeking reimbursement
for.
1 Twins are considered
as one child order
2 Adopted child must be below 1-year old at point of formal
intent to adopt
3 Formal intent to adopt
*If your child is born and with estimated delivery date (EDD) before 1 Jul 2017, child order refers to the number of birth event(s) (regardless of child's nationality) by the mother. It excludes stepchildren, stillbirths, adopted-in children and children who have passed away.
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You must meet the following requirements:
1. Your
child is a
Singapore citizen, even if you or your husband is not a Singapore citizen.
Tip
If your child is not a Singapore citizen at date of birth, you can still qualify if your child obtains Singapore citizenship within 12 months from your child's date of birth (inclusive of date of birth). Your maternity leave benefits under the GPML scheme will only start when your child obtains Singapore citizenship and must be taken within 12 months from your child's date of birth (inclusive of date of birth). |
2. If you are an employee: You must have served your employer for a period of at least 3 months immediately before your child's date of birth
Or
If you are self-employed: You must be engaged in your business, trade or profession continuously for
at least 3 months immediately before your child's date of birth.
If you are unsure, please use the
maternity self-assessment tool.
If your child is not a Singapore citizen, you may still qualify for maternity leave. More information can be found at the
Ministry of Manpower's (MOM) website.
If you are unable to meet employment requirements under the GPML scheme, you may still qualify for benefits under the
Government-Paid Maternity Benefits (GPMB) scheme.
Step 1. Give your employer
early notice of your leave arrangement. This allows your employer time to verify your eligibility and make alternative work arrangements.
Important!
Even if you have agreed on a flexible maternity leave arrangement, the first 8 weeks of leave
must
be taken in one continuous block. |
Step 2.
Submit the
declaration form (GPML1) to your employer with all the necessary supporting documents. Your employer may use its own declaration form or system for you to declare your eligibility. Please
check with your employer.
Step 3.
Apply
for maternity leave
according
to your employer's leave application procedures.
The Government will reimburse you for the days you were on maternity leave. This is calculated based on your Notice of Assessment from the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS).
Step 1. Record and keep a personal log of your maternity leave dates.
Step 2.
Submit
your claim online via the
GPL Portal no later than 3 months after the last date of your maternity leave taken.
Tip
If you do not have a standing payment instruction with us, please log in to
GPL Portal and provide your bank details under “Maintain Bank Details”.
Read our FAQs and watch the
online demonstration for details. |
Step 3. Log in to
GPL Portal to check your application status. A notification will be sent to you once your application is processed.
Please refer to our
service standards for the processing time.
Note
For stillbirth applications, please fill in and submit the following hardcopy form:
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Step 1.
Obtain
the
declaration form (GPML1) and supporting documents from your employee. You can also use your own form or system to capture your employee's declaration. Click
here
for the information you need in the declaration.
Step 2.
Submit
your employee's claims online via the
GPL Portal no later than 3 months after the last date of your employee's maternity leave taken.
Tip
If your company does not have a standing payment instruction with us, please log in to
GPL Portal and provide your company's bank details (if you have the appropriate access rights to do so) under “Maintain Bank Details”.
Read our FAQs and watch the
online demonstration for details.
|
Step 3.
Log in to
GPL Portal to check your application status. A notification will be sent to you and your employee once your application is processed.
Please refer to our
service standards for the processing time.
Note
For stillbirth applications, please fill in and submit the following hardcopy form: |
Claims can only be made after the leave is taken. All claims must be submitted
no later than 3 months after the last date of maternity leave taken.
For 1st and 2nd child order, claims can be submitted, once a month, after the first 8 weeks of maternity leave is taken.
For 3rd and subsequent child order, claims can be submitted, once a month, immediately after the commencement of maternity leave.
Important!
Please submit your claims on time. All late claims will not be considered! |
