Key insights

• 🏡 Singapore government announces expanded parental leave and priority access to housing for singles near their parents, aiming to support families and young couples
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Singapore extends parental leave to 16 weeks for mothers and 4 weeks for fathers, and adds 10 weeks for both to share
• 🏫 Enhanced CPF Housing Grant cap will be increased to support lower-income couples buying HDB flats, and the Gifted Education Programme for primary school students will be revamped
• 📚 Singapore introduces new initiatives for students and unemployed individuals, including tailored programmes for high-ability students in primary schools and a SkillsFuture Jobseeker Support scheme for financial assistance and job-matching services
• 🏟️ The Kallang Alive Masterplan will transform the area into a sporting and lifestyle destination with a new indoor arena, Team Singapore's new home, national training centers, and facilities for all levels of sports enthusiasts
• 🎤 PM Wong delivers speech at National Day Rally, appreciates athletes and addresses expectations, but emphasizes that he's not performing tonight

Q&A

• What did PM Wong address in his speech at the National Day Rally?

  PM Wong appreciated athletes at the Rally, addressed expectations related to the event, and emphasized that he's not performing that night. He delivered speeches in Malay, Mandarin, and English during the event.

• What is the Kallang Alive Masterplan?

  The Kallang Alive Masterplan aims to transform the area into a sporting and lifestyle destination, featuring a new indoor arena, becoming Team Singapore's new home, hosting national training centers, and providing facilities for sports enthusiasts of all levels. Prime Minister Wong acknowledged athletes who competed at the Paris Olympics during the announcement.

• What new initiatives are being introduced for students and unemployed individuals?

  New initiatives include tailored programmes for high-ability students in primary schools and a SkillsFuture Jobseeker Support scheme, offering financial assistance, job-matching services, and temporary support of up to S$6,000 for 6 months for unemployed individuals.

• What changes are being made to support lower-income couples and primary school students?

  The Enhanced CPF Housing Grant cap will be increased to support lower-income couples buying HDB flats. Additionally, the Gifted Education Programme for primary school students, currently 40 years old, will be revamped, with the placement of students in 9 primary schools being decentralized.

• How is the Singapore government supporting families and young couples?

  The government is extending parental leave to 16 weeks for mothers and 4 weeks for fathers, in addition to adding 10 weeks for both parents to share. Singles will also get priority access to BTO flats near their parents, starting from the middle of next year.

• What are the changes to Singapore's paternity leave policy?

  Starting April 1, 2025, fathers must be offered 4 weeks of paternity leave, up from the current 2 weeks. A new Shared Parental Leave scheme will allow working parents to share 10 weeks of paid parental leave, fully rolled out from April 1, 2026, in 2 phases.

• 00:00 Singapore is making changes to its paternity leave policy, increasing leave for fathers and introducing a Shared Parental Leave scheme to promote a more family-friendly environment.
• 00:42 Singapore government announces expanded parental leave and priority access to housing for singles near their parents, aiming to support families and young couples. 🏡
• 01:29 The government is making changes to support lower-income couples buying HDB flats and revamping the Gifted Education Programme for primary school students.
• 02:13 Singapore introduces new initiatives for students and unemployed individuals, including tailored programmes for high-ability students in primary schools and a SkillsFuture Jobseeker Support scheme for financial assistance and job-matching services.
• 02:54 The Kallang Alive Masterplan will transform the area into a sporting and lifestyle destination with a new indoor arena, Team Singapore's new home, national training centers, and facilities for all levels of sports enthusiasts.
• 03:43 PM Wong delivers speech at National Day Rally, appreciates athletes and addresses expectations, but emphasizes that he's not performing tonight.