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Maternity Leave Protections And Obligations In Singapore
If you have worked for your employer for at least 3 months, you have maternity protection against retrenchment and dismissal without sufficient cause during pregnancy. You and your employer also have certain obligations during maternity leave.
Your maternity protection as an employee
If your employer terminates your employment without sufficient cause while you are pregnant, or retrenches you during your pregnancy, they must pay the maternity benefits you would have been eligible for.
To qualify for this maternity protection, you must have:
- Worked for your employer for at least 3 months before receiving the notice of dismissal or retrenchment.
- Been certified pregnant by a medical practitioner before receiving the notice of dismissal or retrenchment.
Your obligations as an employee
If you are an employee on maternity leave, you cannot work for another employer during your maternity leave. If you do so, your maternity benefit will be forfeited and you may also be dismissed.
An employer’s obligations
An employer has the following obligations to employees who are on maternity leave:
- Continue to pay an employee’s salary throughout her maternity leave as if she had been working without a break.
- Not ask an employee to work during the first 4 weeks of her confinement.
It is an offence for an employer to dismiss an employee while she is on maternity leave.
Relevant legislation
Maternity leave protection and benefits are provided for under:
- Part III of the Child Development Co-Savings Act
- Part IX of the Employment Act
Source of Information for Employment, all Work Passes & their related matters is from the Ministry Of Manpower & TAFEP.
You may wish to visit Ministry Of Manpower (MOM) online for detailed information and current updates.
