Additional leave compliance rules and complexities

Annual leave

After three consecutive months in a role, Singapore employees can take up to 7 days of paid annual leave each year. This amount increases by one day for each subsequent year they spend in the role, capping at 14 days after they’ve been in the role for 8 years. However, these are just the statutory requirements. Many Singapore employers offer at least 14 days’ annual leave at the point of employment.

Sick leave

Sick leave varies depending on how long the employee’s been in the role. Singapore employment law also differentiates between “hospitalized” and “non-hospitalized” days. Employees are generally entitled to more “hospitalized days” than “non-hospitalized” days. The longer they stay in the role, the more they can take of either.

Singaporean workers can also take work-related injury leave on full pay for 14 days, so long as they’re not hospitalized. After 14 days, they’re entitled to 66.7% of their regular pay.

Maternity and paternity leave

Maternity leave allowance depends not just on the mother’s time in employment, but also on whether the child is a Singaporean citizen. If they meet the criteria, mothers can take up to 16 weeks of paid maternity leave. But if their child’s not a Singaporean citizen, they may only take 12 weeks’ leave. Paternity leave is limited to 2 weeks, and the father must meet certain criteria. The child must be a Singaporean citizen, and they must have been legally married to the mother between the child’s conception and birth.