We are writing to highlight the urgent need for greater support for working parents, particularly in the areas of childcare leave and student care subsidies.

1. Insufficient Childcare Leave for Working Parents
   Currently, each working parent is entitled to only 6 days of childcare leave annually, regardless of the number of children, till 7year old. This is far from sufficient, especially when children—particularly in preschool—fall sick frequently. Parents are often forced to take unpaid leave or make alternative, often costly, caregiving arrangements. Limited childcare leave (2 days per year for parents of children aged 7 to 12) while being expected to manage frequent Home-Based Learning (HBL) days

2. Lack of Student Care Support for Middle-Income Families
While the government provides student care subsidies under the Student Care Fee Assistance (SCFA) scheme, these are limited to lower-income families. In contrast, middle-income families receive little to no support despite facing high living costs, limited family help, and full-time work commitments. Unlike the additional childcare subsidies available for this income group in preschool, there is currently no equivalent assistance once the child enters primary school.

Student care becomes an essential service for working parents with no alternative caregiving support. It is neither safe nor practical to leave young children at home alone, and yet, the financial burden of student care can be overwhelming for middle-income households who do not qualify for existing aid.

3. Work-Life Balance and Flexible Work Arrangements (FWA)
While the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) has introduced the Tripartite Guidelines on FWA Requests (effective 1 Dec 2024), we must acknowledge that in many workplaces, it is not feasible for parents to leave work early every day to manage school pick-up or after-school care. Realistically, how many employers can accommodate parents needing to leave work daily at 1pm?

The lack of institutional support for student care and limited leave entitlements leaves parents with few options, often forcing them to choose between work and their child’s wellbeing.

4. Mental and Financial Strain on Parents
The cost of living in Singapore continues to rise, and while some aspects are addressed through targeted subsidies, not all family needs are covered. Raising a child here is both financially and mentally taxing. The current level of parental and childcare support is insufficient to encourage or sustain healthy family life, let alone influence decisions to grow a family.

 
Our Requests:

Expand childcare leave—Increase the number of childcare leave days or allow more flexibility for parents with multiple children.
Introduce student care subsidies for middle-income families—Model this after the additional childcare subsidy structure to support parents of primary school-aged children.
Encourage workplace implementation of meaningful FWAs—Support employers to implement realistic flexible arrangements, especially for caregivers.
 
We hope the Government will take these concerns seriously and continue to ensure that no family falls through the cracks, especially those in the middle-income bracket who often face the greatest burden with the least assistance.

This petition calls upon the Ministry of Social and Family Development and other relevant agencies to implement a more inclusive policy framework that offers expanded childcare leave entitlements and enhanced student care subsidies. By doing so, Singapore can ensure that middle-income families are not left behind and can thrive alongside their low-income counterparts.

Support a fairer and more inclusive approach for supporting middle-income families' childcare needs. Sign this petition to create a more equitable system that benefits all tiers of society.