In an unprecedented, one-off move, Singapore’s Public Servants have been given greater flexibility this year to clear their unused annual leave, and the option to exchange it for cash.
The move allows some 85,000 Public Servants to carry forward half of 2019’s annual leave into 2021, if they have not used it by the end of 2020.
In a statement, the Public Service Division (PSD) said under normal circumstances, Government workers would not have been allowed to bring forward 2019’s annual leave to 2021.
They could carry it over only to 2020 and the unused leave would then be forfeited.
“If they still have remaining leave after carrying forward half of 2019’s leave to 2021, they can cash it in under the new policy,” the PSD said.
“This is a one-off measure to recognise the efforts of our officers in fighting the COVID-19 situation, and as a result are unable to consume their accumulated vacation leave,” it said.
Public Servants get up to 18 days of annual leave, while those who have worked in the Public Service for more than 10 years have 21 days.
The PSD said Statutory Boards were “strongly encouraged” to adopt similar measures for their officers.
The Ministry of Health, which worked with public healthcare institutions on the policy, said public healthcare workers may not be able to fully utilise their annual leave entitlements this year as they have been “working tirelessly on the front lines”.
Singapore, 6 November 2020
