SINGAPORE – Implementing the new childcare leave provisions for parents announced at the National Day Rally (NDR) will take at least several months, as the Government works through operational details and makes the necessary legislative and system changes.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office Indranee Rajah said on Sept 2 that there is no start date yet for the revamped scheme, which gives each working parent up to 12 days of childcare leave a year.

The Government will also reimburse employers for the full duration of all child-related leave schemes, such as maternity leave and childcare leave, up to a limit.

“I know that everybody would like to start, like, yesterday, but remember that when it was announced at NDR, PM said this is a sneak preview, right?” she said on Sept 2 during an interview with CNA938.

Before implementation, the Government has to work out operational issues with tripartite partners like employers, unions and parents to make sure all the details are tied down.

Legislation also needs to be amended because childcare leave is currently provided for as part of the Child Development Co-Savings Act, Indranee said.

IT systems must also be looked at – the Government has to track who uses childcare leave to make sure they are paid, and that their employers are reimbursed the correct amount to pay workers covering the duties of the parents.

“So I think that will take some time. It’s going to take at least several months. I can’t give you a date as to when it will start. I can say that these are the things that have to take place first, and we will announce the start date as soon as we can,” Indranee said.

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong had said at the Rally on Aug 23 that the new scheme wil...