Final answer:
In Singapore, employers are required to pay for maternity leave under the Child Development Co-Savings Act, but they are then reimbursed by the government. The support offered is designed to promote family growth and alleviate the financial burden associated with childbirth.
Step-by-step explanation:
In Singapore, under the Child Development Co-Savings Act (CDCA), employers are initially responsible for providing payment to eligible employees during their maternity leave. However, these payments are then reimbursed to the employers by the government. This is part of a broader support system aimed at encouraging childbirth and parenthood within the country, ensuring that mothers can take time off work without financial worry for child-rearing.
The concept of supporting families through various leaves and financial compensation has a history of development. For example, in the United States, the historic push for maternity leave benefits incrementally evolved from state-level provisions to federal mandates like the Pregnancy Discrimination Act of 1978, which provided some protections for pregnant women in the workplace.
Forms of support for working families, such as the Child Tax Credit (CTC) in the United States, have also emerged more recently. The CTC, which was expanded as part of President Joe Biden's American Rescue Plan, represents a different form of government spending aimed at reducing child poverty by providing monthly payments to families, enhancing their ability to manage essential expenses.