Calling All Mothers: Let’s Unite for Fair and Equal Extended Parental Leave!

We mummies, are coming together to ask for fair and equal support for all new mothers of EDD H2 2024.

Join us in signing this petition to extend the newly announced 6 weeks of additional paid parental leave to include mothers whose babies are born between October 2024 and March 2025.

Why We Need Your Support:

The Singapore government has introduced a progressive policy that grants an extra 6 weeks of paid parental leave to parents with children born on or after April 2025. However, this policy excludes mothers who are giving birth just a few months earlier, between October 2024 and March 2025.

The timing of our baby’s birth feels like an unfortunate technicality that prevents us from accessing the same level of support that parents just a few months later will receive. Missing this entitlement solely due to our baby’s expected delivery date seems unfair, as the needs of a newborn are the same regardless of when they are born.

As mothers, we know that the needs of a newborn and the challenges of motherhood do not change based on a specific date. Whether you’re giving birth in October 2024 or April 2025, the demands of caring for a newborn, establishing breastfeeding, and transitioning back to work are the same. The current cut-off date for this new benefit creates an unfair divide, leaving many of us without the crucial support that other mothers will receive.

What We Are Asking For:

We are asking the Ministry of Social Affairs to extend the additional 6 weeks of paid parental leave to all mothers with babies born in the six months leading up to April 2025. This extension will ensure that all new mothers are given equal opportunities to bond with their newborns, recover from childbirth, and smoothly transition back into the workforce.

Why This Matters:

1. Fairness for All New Mothers: Motherhood doesn’t change based on a specific date. The current policy creates an unfair distinction between mothers, denying many of us the same level of support simply because of when our babies are born. Every new mother should have the same access to time for recovery, bonding, and caregiving, regardless of her due date.
2. Mental Health and Well-Being: The postpartum period is universally challenging. Extending the additional leave will ensure that all mothers—regardless of when their child is born—can prioritize their health and well-being, as well as that of their newborns. No mother should have to compromise her recovery or her baby’s care because of an arbitrary cut-off date.
3. Reducing Stress and Supporting Workforce Participation: Returning to work after childbirth can be daunting, especially without adequate time to adjust to the new demands of motherhood. The additional leave will help reduce stress for mothers and promote workforce participation by ensuring that all mothers—whether they give birth before or after April 2025—have the time they need to transition back to work confidently.

How You Can Help:

We need your voice! By signing this petition, you’re standing up for fair and equal support for all mothers. Let’s make sure that no mother is left behind simply because of the timing of her child’s birth.

Sign the petition and share it with your network of fellow mothers, friends, and family. Together, we can make a difference and create a more inclusive and supportive policy for all new mothers in Singapore.

Thank you for your support! Every signature brings us one step closer to achieving equal parental leave for all mothers.