National Day Rally 2024: Key takeaways from Lawrence Wong's speech

Summary

Singapore's Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced significant family-friendly policies at the National Day Rally. Starting April 2025, paternity leave will be extended to four weeks, with a new Shared Parental Leave scheme offering 10 weeks for parents to share from 2026. The government will subsidize additional leave, totaling up to 30 weeks of paid leave. Other initiatives include priority access to housing for singles living near parents and financial support for lower-income families. Education will see a refresh of the Gifted Education Programme, and for the unemployed, the SkillsFuture Jobseeker Support scheme offers up to S$6,000 in temporary aid. The Kallang Alive Masterplan promises a new sports and lifestyle hub, enhancing community and sports engagement.

Takeaways

• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Starting April 1, 2025, Singaporean employers are required to offer fathers 4 weeks of paternity leave, increasing from the current 2 weeks with an additional 2 weeks on a voluntary basis.
• 🤝 A new Shared Parental Leave scheme will be implemented from April 1, 2026, allowing working parents to share 10 weeks of paid parental leave, phased in starting with 6 weeks from April 1, 2025.
• 💰 The additional 10 weeks of shared parental leave will be funded by the government, adding to the existing 4 weeks for fathers and 16 weeks for mothers, totaling approximately 7.5 months of paid leave.
• 🏡 Singles will receive priority access to Build-To-Order (BTO) flats to live near their parents from mid-next year, extending a previously married-only benefit.
• 🏘️ Lower-income couples will benefit from an increase in the Enhanced CPF Housing Grant, which is capped at S$80,000, to make purchasing their first HDB flat more affordable.
• 📚 A significant change in education policy will refresh the 40-year-old Gifted Education Programme (GEP), decentralizing it to allow all primary schools to identify and nurture high-ability students with tailored programmes.
• 💼 The SkillsFuture Jobseeker Support scheme aims to support lower- and middle-income workers who face involuntary unemployment, providing temporary financial aid of up to S$6,000 for up to 6 months, along with training and job matching services.
• 🏟️ The Kallang Alive Masterplan will transform the area into a sporting and lifestyle destination with a new indoor arena for 18,000 people and become the new home for Team Singapore, including the Sports School and national training centers.
• 🏅 Recognition and appreciation were given to Singaporean athletes, including bronze medallist Max Maeder, who competed at the Paris Olympics, with an invitation to the Rally.
• 🎉 Prime Minister Lawrence Wong's first National Day Rally speech included speeches in Malay, Mandarin, and English, and he confirmed he would not be performing with his guitar as some had expected.

Q & A

What is the new mandatory paternity leave policy starting from April 1, 2025, in Singapore?

Employers in Singapore must offer fathers 4 weeks of paternity leave starting from April 1, 2025, making it mandatory compared to the current 2 weeks with an additional 2 weeks on a voluntary basis.

What is the Shared Parental Leave scheme introduced by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong?

The Shared Parental Leave scheme allows working parents to share 10 weeks of paid parental leave, which will be fully implemented by April 1, 2026, and will be phased in starting with 6 weeks from April 1, 2025.

How will the additional 10 weeks of shared parental leave be funded?

The additional 10 weeks of shared parental leave will be paid for by the government.

What is the total amount of paid leave parents can expect under the new policy?

Parents can expect a total of 30 weeks or about 7.5 months of paid leave, which includes 4 weeks for fathers, 16 weeks for mothers, and 10 weeks to share between them.

What changes are being made for singles regarding public housing?

Starting from the middle of next year, singles will get priority access to Build-to-Order (BTO) flats to live near their parents, a benefit previously exclusive to married couples.

How will the Enhanced CPF Housing Grant be adjusted to assist lower-income couples?

The Enhanced CPF Housing Grant, which currently has a cap of S$80,000, will be increased to make buying the first HDB flat more affordable for lower-income couples.

What significant change is being proposed for the Gifted Education Programme (GEP) in primary schools?

The GEP will be refreshed and decentralized, allowing all primary schools to identify high-ability students and create their own tailored programmes, instead of placing them in 9 specific primary schools.

What support is available for involuntarily unemployed workers through the SkillsFuture Jobseeker Support scheme?

The SkillsFuture Jobseeker Support scheme offers temporary financial support of up to S$6,000 for lower- and middle-income workers, along with training, career coaching, and job matching services for up to 6 months.

What is the Kallang Alive Masterplan and how will it transform the area?

The Kallang Alive Masterplan aims to transform the area into a sporting and lifestyle destination, including a new indoor arena that can hold 18,000 people and will serve as the new home for Team Singapore, the Sports School, and national training centers for several key sports.

How does the Kallang Alive Masterplan cater to individuals interested in sports at different levels?

The facilities at Kallang will be accessible to everyone with an interest in sports, regardless of their level, from weekend players and beginners to those trying to pick up a new sport.

What recognition did Prime Minister Lawrence Wong give to Team Singapore athletes at the National Day Rally?

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong gave a shoutout to Team Singapore athletes who competed at the Paris Olympics, including bronze medallist Max Maeder, and invited them to stand at the Rally to show appreciation for their achievements.