Government-Paid Childcare Leave Usage between 2021 and 2023

Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked the Minister for Social and Family Development for each year from 2021 to 2023 (a) how many and what percentage of mothers took Government-Paid Childcare Leave (GPCL); (b) what is the average and median number of days of GPCL taken by mothers; (c) how many and what percentage of fathers took GPCL; and (d) what is the average and median number of days of GPCL taken by fathers.

Mr Masagos Zulkifli B M M: As mentioned in a reply to a similar question by the Member of Parliament in March 2023, the Ministry of Social and Family Development only tracks the number of parents who took more than three days of Government-Paid Childcare Leave (GPCL), as employers only claim for reimbursement for this group. [Please refer to "Take-up of Government-Paid Childcare Leave by Parents", Official Report, 6 March 2023, Vol 95, Issue 92, Written Answers to Questions section.]

In 2021 and 2022, an average of 74,000, or 60% of eligible working mothers took more than three days of GPCL 1 each year. During the same period, an average of 77,000, or 50% of eligible working fathers, took more than three days of GPCL each year. Of this group, the average and median amount of leave taken was six days in 2021 and 2022 for both mothers and fathers. Data for 2023 is not yet available.

Note(s) to Question No(s) 18:

1 As employers only claim reimbursement from the Government for employees who take more than three days of GPCL, we do not require them to submit information for employees who took three days or less. These figures are rounded to the nearest thousand, and nearest 5%.