Single mothers

Similar to Government-Paid Maternity Leave, all mothers will be eligible for Shared Parental Leave (SPL) scheme or Shared Parental Leave Benefit (SPB) regardless of their marital status. They will be entitled to take the full duration of SPL/SPB to support their caregiving needs. Mothers will also be able to share their leave with the child’s fathers following a marriage within the first year of the child’s birth.

Single fathers

Similar to Government-Paid Paternity Leave, SPL/SPB will not be automatically extended to single fathers. Appeals will be considered on a case-by-case basis. All single parents remain eligible for Unpaid Infant Care Leave, Childcare Leave & Extended Childcare Leave to support their caregiving responsibilities.

Widowed parents

Widowed parents are entitled to utilise any unconsumed SPL/SPB (in blocks of full weeks) that was allocated to their deceased spouse. If a widowed parent wishes to adjust the sharing arrangement after the first four weeks of the child’s birth will not be required to seek employer’s agreement to do so. This is because we recognise that the passing of a spouse is beyond control and widowed parents would require more support in caring for their newborn.

Divorced parents

Married couples who are divorced will remain eligible for SPL/SPB, if they were lawfully married at some point between conception and before the child’s birth, regardless whether the father is still married to the mother at the time of the child’s birth.