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The Government will cover the cost of all statutory child-related leave, up to the reimbursement limit, reducing the financial burden on employers as Singapore strengthens support for working parents.
TL;DR:
- AI and jobs: Singapore will accelerate AI adoption while strengthening safeguards and supporting workers through technological transitions.
- Families and workers: Childcare leave will increase, preschool fees will be lowered, and each Singaporean child will receive almost $70,000 in direct financial support.
- Workforce and future growth: Foreign manpower growth will remain carefully managed, with greater emphasis on technology, productivity and long-term investments to support Singapore’s future.
Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Lawrence Wong outlined a series of measures spanning technology, jobs, families, immigration, and long-term development at Singapore’s National Day Rally (NDR) 2026.
Speaking on 23 August 2026 (Sunday) at the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) Headquarters, PM Wong said Singapore must adapt to a world that is becoming “more contested, more unstable, and more dangerous than before”.
Under the theme “A Changed World. A Stronger Singapore.”, he set out how the country plans to stay relevant, resilient and connected while helping Singaporeans navigate the changes ahead.
Here are some of the key announcements made at the NDR 2026:
#1: Singapore to embrace AI while supporting workers through job transitions
PM Wong said Singapore has adapted through previous waves of technological change, from industrialisation to computers and the internet, by building capabilities and equipping workers with new skills.
He said AI has advanced rapidly over the past year, moving from systems that answer questions to AI agents that can carry out tasks on behalf of users.
For SMEs, AI could provide capabilities that were previously available mainly to larger firms. He talked about entrepreneur Gisele Woon, whose small events business uses AI agents for tasks such as marketing and operations, freeing up time to grow the business and spend with her daughter.
AI is also being used in healthcare, including personalised exercise plans through Healthier SG, breast cancer screening and genomics.
But PM Wong acknowledged that technological change can affect jobs and livelihoods.
Using the example of ride-hailing apps, he said Singapore had chosen to welcome innovation while putting rules in place to support drivers through the transition.
The same approach will apply as Singapore moves towards the use of autonomous vehicles (AVs).
AVs are currently being trialled in Punggol, with PM Wong saying the technology could eventually help address manpower constraints as it becomes harder to recruit bus captains and the taxi workforce ages.
However, adoption will be gradual.
We will not let adoption run ahead of our ability to retrain and support affected drivers, and help them move into new jobs.
He added that Singapore would not hold back new technologies simply because they are disruptive, but neither would it leave affected workers to fend for themselves.
#2: Singapore to strengthen safeguards as AI and social media risks grow
PM Wong also highlighted the risks arising from increasingly capable AI systems.
First, he said, AI agents would be able to perform more tasks with less human supervision, creating opportunities but also potentially serious consequences when things go wrong. To address this, Singapore will work with other countries and companies to develop practical safeguards, while also putting measures in place domestically to ensure people remain in control.
The Government will take a similar approach towards social media. Currently, one in six young people aged 10 to 24 in Singapore show signs of problematic social media use, with some spending six or seven hours a day on social media, according to PM Wong.
To tackle this, social media platforms will be required to introduce more robust and reliable age checks, rather than relying mainly on users to declare their own ages. For teenagers aged 13 and above, platforms will also have to introduce stronger safeguards designed for younger users.
If these safeguards remain inadequate, the Government may consider additional restrictions, including raising the minimum age for access to a platform beyond 13.
#3: Childcare leave to increase based on the number of children per family
Family support formed the next major part of PM Wong’s speech, with the Government looking to support parents more consistently throughout the journey of raising their children.
One immediate change will be an increase in childcare leave.
Under the new arrangement, every working parent will receive eight days of childcare leave for one child aged 12 and below, 10 days for two children aged 12 and below, and 12 days for three or more children aged 12 and below.
PM Wong said the increase would give parents greater flexibility to manage caregiving responsibilities. For example, a working couple with three primary school children would move from four days of childcare leave to 24 days under the new arrangement.
#4: Government to cover statutory child-related leave costs
The Government will also cover the cost of all statutory child-related leave, up to the reimbursement limit, with PM Wong saying this would reduce the financial burden on employers.
At the same time, he called on employers to play their part by supporting parents in the workplace and giving them confidence to take the leave they are entitled to.
Employers should also help parents settle back into work and ensure that becoming a parent does not disadvantage someone's career, he said.
"Parents who feel supported are better able to give their best – at home and at work."
#5: Every Singaporean child to receive almost S$70,000 in direct financial support
The Government will also simplify financial support for parents and extend assistance beyond the early years of a child’s life.
Every newborn will receive a S$10,000 Baby Gift, a S$5,000 MediSave grant, and a Child Development Account with an initial S$5,000 grant and a dollar-for-dollar matching grant of up to another S$5,000.
From age one to 16, every child will receive annual Child Credits of S$2,000. Children will also receive annual Edusave top-ups during primary and secondary school, followed by a further S$10,000 top-up to their Post-Secondary Education Account at age 17.
Taken together, every Singaporean child will receive almost S$70,000 in direct financial support as they grow up.
#6: Government aims to reduce childcare fees to S$150 a month
The Government will also increase support for preschool and care arrangements. PM Wong said the aim is to reduce full-day childcare fees to S$150 a month and infant care fees to S$300 a month for every Singaporean child, regardless of household income.
Lower-income families will continue to receive additional subsidies.
The changes will take several years, as the Government first needs to significantly expand the network of government-supported operators.
As the network grows, fees will be brought down progressively.
The Government also plans to expand student care capacity, improve the quality of care, and keep fees affordable.
#7: BTO income ceiling to rise to S$16,000, EC ceiling to S$18,000
Housing support for families will also be expanded. As announced, the income ceiling for BTO flats will increase from S$14,000 to S$16,000, while the ceiling for Executive Condominiums will rise from S$16,000 to S$18,000.
First-timer families with children will also receive an additional ballot chance for every child they have or are expecting when applying for a new flat.
This, PM Wong said, would improve the chances of families with children securing a home sooner. For larger families, the Government is also looking at additional support for healthcare, transport, and housing.
#8: More support planned for seniors, persons with disabilities and singles
The Government’s support will extend beyond families with young children, PM Wong noted.
Several measures are being studied to help seniors stay active and continue contributing if they want to work, while giving those with healthy MediSave balances more flexibility to meet healthcare needs.
The Government is also looking at ways for seniors to unlock the value of their homes for retirement while continuing to live in them.
For persons with disabilities, the Government will work to make the transition from school to work smoother, expand employment opportunities, and strengthen access to care and community support.
The PM also made a point on singles, many of whom he acknowledged are caring for ageing parents or supporting their families.
To this point, he said further steps to support singles are intended within this term of Government.
#9: Singapore to remain open while managing foreign manpower carefully
Acknowledging that Singapore's total fertility rate is still likely to remain well below replacement level, the Prime Minister highlighted that the country cannot rely on births alone to maintain its population and workforce.
Immigration has long been part of Singapore’s development, he said, with newcomers contributing to the economy and society. At the same time, the Government will continue to manage the size of the foreign workforce.
He added that Singapore welcomes foreign manpower to complement the local workforce and support the economy, but this will be done in a careful and controlled way.
He also rejected calls for a broad easing of foreign worker policies, noting that work permit holders already form the largest group of foreign pass holders and that even a modest easing could lead to a significant increase in numbers.
With population and labour force growth expected to slow, PM Wong said more growth would need to come from technology and productivity, as well as enabling Singaporeans to realise their full potential.
#10: Singapore to continue long-term planning for land, infrastructure, and future industries
Apart from the above, PM Wong also set out several long-term plans to create more space and opportunities for future generations.
Over the coming decades, Singapore intends to merge several islands south of Jurong Island into a larger island that could support advanced manufacturing, power generation infrastructure and SAF requirements.
The Government also plans to transform Sentosa and Pulau Brani, creating an integrated southern waterfront with new attractions and experiences.
Long Island will eventually form another new waterfront, while further reclamation at Pulau Tekong will provide more training space for the SAF and around 500 hectares for future civilian uses.
Connectivity will also be improved.
Plans include a new people mover system connecting the mainland, Sentosa and Brani, as well as a possible water taxi service. A second road link to Jurong Island and a new link between Jurong Island and the planned western island are also in the works.
Finally, the Government is also studying the feasibility of undersea tunnels to connect the mainland to Tekong.
These projects will take decades to complete, PM Wong said, requiring sustained planning, resources and investment across multiple terms of government.
Building a stronger, more resilient Singapore
The NDR ended with PM Wong highlighting three Singaporeans: Ervin Han, filmmaker; Shaik Nifael Nazeemuddin, waste-management entrepreneur; and Sheila Khoo, Republic Polytechnic graduate diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome, as examples of resilience and determination.
Their stories, he said, reflected a Singapore spirit built on courage, opportunity and standing by one another.
As Singapore faces faster technological change, tighter manpower conditions, and a more uncertain global environment, the message from this year’s Rally was that the country will need to remain adaptable while ensuring its people have the support and opportunities to move forward with it.
PM Wong concluded: "The years ahead will test Singapore in new ways. We cannot choose the world we live in. But we can choose how we respond."
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Lead image / PM Lawrence Wong's Facebook
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