Forum: Legislated fertility leave is the missing piece in Singapore’s parenthood reset

Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong’s recent characterisation of Singapore’s record-low total fertility rate of 0.87 as an “existential challenge” demands decisive action.

While the Government’s enhanced shared parental leave scheme is commendable, it supports parents only after a child is born. We are fundamentally failing the one in six couples in Singapore who are desperately trying to reach that starting line.

It is time for Singapore to implement legislated, state-funded fertility leave.

Currently, couples undergoing in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) face a punishing tug of war between demanding careers and intensive medical schedules. IVF requires multiple clinic visits, hormonal therapies and invasive procedures.

As only 27 per cent of companies offer dedicated fertility benefits, most employees are forced to deplete their annual or sick leave.

This ad hoc approach exacerbates the immense stress of infertility. According to Fertility Support SG, 41 per cent of individuals report that fertility treatments negatively impact their work, leading many to resign or take unpaid leave.

When the pursuit of parenthood forces citizens out of the workforce, both our economy and our demographic goals suffer.

A dedicated policy ^_ ideally offering up to 10 days of paid leave per IVF cycle ^_ must become a statutory right.

Critics often cite the potential administrative burden on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and the risk of workplace discrimination against women of childbearing age. These are valid concerns, but they are reasons to design the policy thoughtfully, not abandon it.

To prevent employer resentment and ease the burden on SMEs, the Government should provide 100 per cent reimbursement for fertility-related leave days, mirroring the shared parental leave model.

Furthermore, to mitigate stigma, this leave should be integrated into a gender-neutral “family care or medical leave” framework. It must explicitly encourage male partners to take time off for support and their own medical evaluations, dismantling the outdated notion that fertility is solely a “women’s issue”.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office Indranee Rajah has rightly called for a “marriage and parenthood reset”.

A true reset requires a shift in corporate culture – from one that rigidly prioritises constant presence to one that genuinely supports family formation.

We can no longer afford to let our citizens choose between their livelihoods and their desire to have children.

Legislated fertility leave is the decisive, common-sense step we must take to secure our demographic future.

Alexis Heng Boon Chin (Dr)