SINGAPORE, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- Singapore will strengthen support for families by increasing childcare leave, expanding financial assistance for children, reducing preschool fees, and increasing housing access, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said on Sunday.
Under the new childcare leave arrangement, every working parent will receive eight days every year for one child aged 12 and below, 10 days for two children and 12 days for three or more children, he said while delivering his National Day Rally 2026 speech.
Each newborn will receive almost 70,000 Singapore dollars (about 55,141 U.S. dollars) in direct financial support over their childhood, including annual child credits and education-related top-ups.
The government also aims to reduce full-day childcare fees to 150 Singapore dollars a month and infant care fees to 300 Singapore dollars a month, regardless of household income, while providing additional subsidies to lower-income families.
The government will also raise household income ceilings for subsidized public housing and give first-time families with children greater priority in securing new flats, as part of broader measures to help Singaporeans raise families.
The government will raise income ceilings for subsidized Build-to-Order flats to 16,000 Singapore dollars from 14,000 Singapore dollars and for executive condominiums to 18,000 Singapore dollars from 16,000 Singapore dollars.
Wong said the measures were aimed at supporting parents throughout the journey of raising children, rather than concentrating assistance around the time of birth. ■