SINGAPORE – Families will get greater support and confidence for the future, while Singapore will harness the power of new technology on its own terms.
These are not separate agendas, but part of one larger mission to keep the Republic trusted, relevant and resilient in a rapidly changing world, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said in his National Day Rally speech on Aug 23 at the ITE College Central in Ang Mo Kio.
The Republic will also keep planning and building for the long term, the Prime Minister said as he sketched out horizon plans for Singapore’s outer islands.
Here are 10 highlights from his speech in English, Malay and Mandarin:
1. More sustained financial support for each S’porean child
A new SG Child Support Package will replace the existing baby bonus scheme, and will give every Singaporean child more support throughout the years, regardless of birth order.
Under the new package, each child will receive $2,000 in child credits every year from age 1 to 16, alongside Edusave top-ups every year in primary and secondary school. At 17 years old, $10,000 will be topped-up into a child’s post-secondary education account.
The new package means every Singaporean child will receive around $70,000 of direct financial support by the time they turn 17. Parents currently receive between $27,500 and $56,500 per child in financial support, depending on birth order.
Singaporean children born on or after April 1, 2027 will come fully under the new package. Those born in or turning 1 to 17 in 2026 will receive benefits based on their corresponding age in 2026 and in subsequent years.
2. More childcare leave until children turn 12
Every working parent will be eligible for eight, 10 or 12 days of childcare leave per calendar year, depending on whether they have one, two, or three or more Singaporean children aged 12 and below.
Currently, working parents are entitled to six days of childcare leave if their youngest child is six years old or younger, and two days’ leave if their youngest child is between seven and 12 years old.
The Government will also cover the cost of all statutory child-related leave up to the reimbursement limit, a change from the current arrangement where costs are shared between the Government and employers.
The start date of the new childcare leave scheme will be announced subsequently.
3. Childcare and infant care fees to be reduced as more centres receive govt support
Full-day childcare fees will be reduced to $150 per month and infant care fees will be lowered to $300 per month at government-supported preschool centres in a few years’ time, with the lower fees to apply to every Singaporean child regardless of household income.
While there are already significant subsidies, PM Wong noted that families above a certain income level today pay nearly $600 per month for full-day childcare and more than $1,000 each month for infant care.
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