What are employers' obligations during public holidays?
The Singapore government has released the list of public holidays for 2027, as it reminded employers of their obligations under the Employment Act.
The 11 gazetted public holidays for 2027 are:
- New Year's Day (January 1, Friday)
- Chinese New Year (February 6 and 7, Saturday and Sunday)
- Hari Raya Puasa (March 10, Wednesday)
- Good Friday (March 26, Friday)
- Labour Day (May 1, Saturday)
- Hari Raya Haji (May 17, Monday)
- Vesak Day (May 20, Thursday)
- National Day (August 9, Monday)
- Deepavali (October 28, Thursday)
- Christmas Day (December 25, Saturday)
February 8 (Monday) will also be declared a public holiday, according to the Ministry of Manpower.
Employers' payment obligations
Employees covered by the Employment Act are entitled to the paid public holidays announced.
MOM said employees who will be working on a public holiday are entitled to an extra day's salary at the basic rate of pay, on top of their gross rate of pay for that day.
"If a certain holiday falls on an employee's rest day, the next working day will be a paid holiday," MOM also said on its website.
Employers and employees may also mutually agree to substitute a public holiday for another working day, according to the ministry.
Time-off-in-lieu may also be granted to some employees who are working on a public holiday. These workers include:
- Workmen earning more than $4,500 a month
- Non-workmen earning more than $2,600 a month
- All Managers and Executives
