The Employment (Amendment) Act 2022, which came into operation on 1st January 2023, introduced paternity leave entitlements for male employees.
The relevant section is Section 60FA of the Employment Act 1955:
“Paternity leave
60FA. (1) Subject to subsection (3), a married male employee shall be entitled to a paid paternity leave at his ordinary rate of pay for a period of seven consecutive days in respect of each confinement.
(2) The paternity leave under subsection (1) shall be restricted to five confinements irrespective of the number of spouses.
(3) A married male employee shall be entitled to paternity leave from his employer if—
(a) he has been employed by the same employer at least twelve months immediately before the commencement of such paternity leave; and
(b) he has notified his employer of the pregnancy of his spouse at least thirty days from the expected confinement or as early as possible after the birth.” (Emphasis ours)
On 12th August 2022, the Human Resources Minister issued the Employment (Amendment of First Schedule) Order 2022 which revised the scope of the EA 1955.
This revision to the scope of the EA 1955, however, only take effect on 1st January 2023.
With effect from 1st January 2023, all male employees (regardless of wages) will be entitled to paternity leave.
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