The Ultimate Guide to Hiring Employees in Singapore

The Employment Act includes provisions for paid leave for employees with a minimum of 3 months of service. In the initial year, they are entitled to 7 days of annual leave, with an additional day for each subsequent year. Nevertheless, it is common for employers to provide 14-20 days of annual leave after the first year of service.

Pregnant employees in Singapore, having worked for a minimum of 3 months before their due date and expecting a Singaporean citizen child, are eligible for 16 weeks of paid maternity leave. This period encompasses up to 8 weeks before the anticipated due date and the remaining weeks following the birth. Other conditions for paid maternity leave include:

• Birth of non-Singaporean children qualify for 12 weeks of leave
• For the first 2 children, the employer covers the initial 8 weeks at regular gross salary, and the government reimburses the extra 8 weeks (capped at 10,000 SGD per 4 weeks or a total of 20,000 SGD per child)
• For the 3rd child, the employee receives 100% of their average salary, and the employer handles the first 8 weeks, while Social Security manages the next 8 weeks. The entire 16 weeks are reimbursed by the government (capped at 10,000 SGD per 4 weeks or a total of 20,000 SGD per child)

Spouses with three months of service can take a two-week paid paternity leave within 16 weeks after their child's birth. The Government-Paid Paternity Leave (GPPL) funds this, with employees receiving their regular salary, capped at 2,500 SGD per week or a total of 5,000 SGD. Adoptive fathers may also be eligible if they meet the specified criteria.

After six months of service, employees are entitled to paid sick leave, receiving regular gross salary for 14 days annually without hospitalisation and 60 days with hospitalisation (including 14 days for outpatient care). Notifying the employer within 48 hours and a medical certificate upon return to work are mandatory. Before six months, the number of paid sick days depends on the length of employment:

• 3 months of service: 5 days per year, 15 days if there is hospitalisation
• 4 months of service: 8 days per year, 45 days if there is hospitalisation
• 5 months of service: 11 days per year, 60 days if there is hospitalisation

While it is not legally mandated, employers in Singapore typically grant their employees 2-3 days of paid leave in the event of the death of an immediate family member.

Upon the occasion of an employee's marriage, the employee is entitled to take up to five days of leave.

In Singapore, the day designated for voting or polling is observed as a public holiday.

Employees are granted paid reservist leave every year upon receiving the government-issued Notification of National Service Call-Up (SAF 100).

Fathers who meet the eligibility criteria can request Shared Parental Leave, which is a 4-week reduction from their wife's 16-week maternity leave. Parents with a minimum of 3 months of service are granted 6 days of annual childcare leave until the child reaches 7, capped at 42 days. The payment structure for this leave is as follows:

• The employer covers payment for the initial 3 days
• The government covers payment for the remaining 3 days
• Payments are capped at 500 SGD per day or a total of 1,500 SGD in any calendar year, inclusive of CPF contributions