<font color="ff6000">This is what was tabled yesterday...
http://www.parliament.gov.sg/Publications/080026.pdf
Clause 8 inserts a new section 10A to enable the enhanced maternity benefits under
sections 9 and 9A (as amended by clauses 5 and 6, respectively) to be extended to a
female employee or self-employed woman if —
(a) either of the following applies:
(i) her confinement occurred between 17th August 2008 and 30th October
2008 (both dates inclusive), and her estimated delivery date (as
certified by a medical practitioner) for that confinement is before
31st October 2008; or
(ii) her confinement occurred before 17th August 2008, but her estimated
delivery date (as certified by a medical practitioner) for that
confinement is between 17th August 2008 and 30th October 2008 (both
dates inclusive); and
(b) she otherwise satisfies the eligibility requirements for maternity benefits set
out in section 9A(1), (1A), (1B) or (1C) (as amended by clause 6).
The clause does not require the employer of such a female employee to grant her the
enhanced maternity benefits. However, if the employer does so voluntarily, he will be
reimbursed accordingly by the Government.
Clause 21(b) amends section 76 of the Employment Act to reduce the minimum
period that a female employee must have served her employer immediately preceding
the day of her confinement to be eligible for payment during her maternity leave under
that Act from 180 days to 90 days, if —
(a) the confinement occurs on or after 31st October 2008; or
(b) the estimated delivery date for the confinement (as certified by a medical
practitioner) is on or after 31st October 2008.</font>