Unwed mothers to receive 16-week maternity leave from next year

SINGAPORE – More benefits will soon be given to unwed mothers to reduce the disadvantages that their children face, Minister for Social and Family Development Tan Chuan-jin said in Parliament on Tuesday (April 12).

These benefits include extending the 16-week Government-paid maternity leave, currently only enjoyed by married mothers, to unwed mothers as well. At present, unwed mothers are only entitled to eight weeks of maternity leave.