Starting next year, nine companies, including the pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca and fashion retailer H&M, will offer their employees double the current paid paternity leave. Fathers employed by these companies will now receive four weeks of paid leave to support their newborns and partners, a significant increase from the current two weeks.

The companies participating in this initiative also include ABB (automation), Atlas Copco (manufacturing), Bolon x The Andrews Group (flooring), Electrolux (appliances), Mentor Media (supply chain management), Oriflame (beauty and wellness), and SKF (manufacturing).

This decision follows the example set by Ikea, which has provided its employees in Singapore with this benefit since 2017. These nine companies are members of the Swedish Chamber of Commerce Singapore and announced the initiative on December 9 under the “#DoubleUp pledge,” aimed at enhancing paternity leave benefits in Singapore.

Currently, working fathers are entitled to two weeks of paid paternity leave funded by the government. The nine companies involved in the pledge will supplement this by covering the salary for an additional two weeks. Meanwhile, working mothers in Singapore are eligible for 16 weeks of government-paid maternity leave, provided they meet certain criteria, such as being employed for at least three months and having a Singaporean child.

The #DoubleUp pledge emphasizes the importance of balancing gender responsibilities in the workplace, highlighting that fathers also play a crucial role during the early months of a child’s life. “Parental leave for both mothers and fathers is a key factor in building a more equitable society,” the pledge states.

H&M’s South Asia CEO and regional manager, Ms. Oldouz Mirzaie, hopes that this initiative will encourage other companies to prioritize gender equality. Similarly, Mr. Vinod Narayanan, country president of AstraZeneca Singapore, believes that the extended paternity leave will allow fathers to be more involved during the formative months of their children’s lives.

Although the full benefits will officially begin next year, some companies have already implemented the policy for employees whose babies were born late this year. One such case is Dr. Vikram Shetty, AstraZeneca Singapore’s medical director, whose daughter was born three weeks ago. He is currently on his four-week paternity leave.

Dr. Vikram noted that while newborns spend much of their time sleeping, the extended leave has provided him with a valuable opportunity to bond with his daughter and adjust to his new role as a father. “The additional time allows me to better understand and demonstrate my role as a father while also forming a connection with my baby as she develops her personality,” he said, voicing his full support for the initiative.