Singapore to Double Paternity Leave, Raise Cash Gifts for Babies

Singapore will double paternity leave to four weeks that will be paid for by the government in an attempt to make it attractive to start families.

This will be applied to fathers of Singaporean children born from Jan. 1 next year, Finance Minister Lawrence Wong said in his Budget speech on Tuesday. Employers can grant the additional two weeks of leave on a voluntary basis, which will be reimbursed by the government. This is to allow employers to adjust their manpower needs, he said.