In a significant policy shift, Singapore’s Prime Minister Lawrence Wong has unveiled an expansive suite of government initiatives aimed at bolstering support for families. Central to these measures is an increase in childcare leave, enhanced financial assistance, reduced preschool costs, and better access to public housing. These steps are designed to provide comprehensive and ongoing support to families, rather than focusing solely on childbirth.
Under the new framework, working parents will be entitled to between 8 and 12 days of childcare leave annually, contingent on the number of children under the age of 12. Furthermore, each Singaporean child is set to benefit from nearly S$70,000 in direct financial aid from birth until they reach 17 years of age. The government’s commitment also includes plans to lower full-day childcare fees to S$150 per month by the year 2030, with similar reductions planned for infant-care services.
In terms of housing, the government is broadening support by raising the income ceiling for eligibility for Build-to-Order (BTO) flats to S$16,000 and for executive condominiums to S$18,000. Additionally, first-time families can look forward to an extra ballot opportunity for each child they have or are expecting, further easing their path to homeownership.
These measures are part of a strategic effort to encourage marriage and parenthood, following a concerning decline in Singapore’s total fertility rate, which hit an unprecedented low of 0.87 in 2025. Prime Minister Wong emphasized the importance of providing continuous support to families throughout the child-rearing process, reflecting a broader vision of consistent family assistance.