My emails to different Government Bodies (I)

First email was to MOM:

Are single, unwed mums eligible for maternity leave?

Thank you.

Reply:

Dear Ms Lee,

We refer to your email dated 30 Jun 08.

Under the Employment Act, the employee is entitled to 12 weeks of maternity leave of which the first 8 weeks is paid by the employer if she meets the following qualifying conditions :

(a) she has been employed for at least 180 days (approx 6 months) before the date of delivery;
(b) she has less than 2 children of her own at the time of delivery;
(c) she has given at least one week's notice to her employer before going on maternity leave and has informed the employer as soon as practicable of her delivery.

The employee's marital status (whether single or divorced) does not affect her entitlement to paid maternity leave from the employer.

· For the first and second confinements, the first 8 weeks of maternity leave will continue to be employer-paid. The additional 4 weeks (9th to 12th week) will be funded by the Government, and capped at $10,000 (including CPF contributions).

· For the third and fourth confinements, the full 12 weeks of maternity leave will be funded by the Government, and capped at $30,000 (including CPF contributions).

However, to enjoy the government-paid maternity leave, she has to meet the following critieria:
a. Employee's child is a Singapore citizen at the time of birth, and is born on or after 1 October 2004;
b. Employee has fewer than 4 living children (excludes adopted and stepchildren) at the time of confinement
c. Employee is lawfully married to the child’s father at the time of the child’s conception or birth
d. Employee has worked for the employer for at least 180 days before the birth of the child.

If the employee is not legally married, she will not be eligible for the government-paid maternity leave. For children born on or after 1 March 2007, if the mother does not meet the criterion (a) and/or (c) at the time of confinement, but meets them within six months of the child's birth, she will be eligible for the remaining Government-Paid Maternity Leave from the date when she meets all the criteria.

Should you require more information on the statutory benefits provided for under the Employment Act, you could visit the Ministry of Manpower's web-site at http://www.mom.gov.sg/publish/momportal/en/communities/workplace_standards/employment_standards/the_employment_act.html or call 6 4385122. However, if you need to meet and consult with our officers in person, you may make an e-appointment using the following link : http://app.etools.mom.gov.sg/eindex.aspx.

Yours sincerely,

Chong-Tan Sok Peng (Ms)
Senior Labour Relations Officer
Labour Relations Department . Ministry of Manpower . Fax (65) 65355103. http://www.mom.gov.sg.

I gave them a 2nd email:

Hi,

From your reply below, am I right to say that a single mum is not entitled to maternity leave on the 3^rd month if she is having the 3^rd or 4^th child?

1^st and 2^nd entitled to all 3 months regardless of whether she is single mum a not?

Reply:

Dear Ms Lee,

We refer to your email dated 20 Jul 08.

For single mothers giving birth to 1st or 2nd child, the 3rd month maternity leave will be unpaid if she is not legally married.

If the she is giving birth to the 3rd/4th child, the full 12 weeks maternity leave will be unpaid.

Should you require more information on the statutory benefits provided for under the Employment Act, you could visit the Ministry of Manpower's web-site at http://www.mom.gov.sg/publish/momportal/en/communities/workplace_standards/employment_standards/the_employment_act.html or call 6 4385122. However, if you need to meet and consult with our officers in person, you may make an e-appointment using the following link : http://app.etools.mom.gov.sg/eindex.aspx.

Yours sincerely,

Chong-Tan Sok Peng (Ms)
Senior Labour Relations Officer, Employment Standards Department
Labour Relations and Workplaces Division . Ministry of Manpower . Fax (65) 65354811. http://www.mom.gov.sg.