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The Employer’s Guide to Public Holidays in Singapore

    Access Financial: The Employer’s Guide to Public Holidays in Singapore

    The Employer’s Guide to Public Holidays in Singapore

    Table of Contents
    • List of Public Holidays in 2025
    • Holiday Pay in Singapore
    • Navigating Payments During Off Days
    • Access Financial Simplifies Compliance for You

    To run a business in Singapore, you must understand employer responsibilities and employee entitlements. Among these are paid public holidays and associated compensation for work on off-days. Learning about them will help you stay compliant, avoid penalties, and build a reputation as a trusted employer.

    List of Public Holidays in 2025

    There are 11 official public holidays scheduled for 2025 in Singapore.

    Date and DayOccasion
    01 Jan (Wed)New Year’s Day
    29 Jan (Mon)Chinese New Year
    30 Jan (Tue)Chinese New Year rest day
    31 Mar (Mon)Hari Raya Pausa
    18 Apr (Fri)Good Friday
    01 May (Thu)Labour Day
    12 May (Mon)Vesak Day
    07 Jun (Sat)Hari Raya Haji
    09 Aug (Sat)National Day
    20 Oct (Mon)Deepavali
    25 Dec (Thu)Christmas Day

    Holiday Pay in Singapore

    The Employment Act of Singapore mandates that all bank holidays be paid holidays for all employees. If a holiday falls on a rest day, the following working day will be a paid holiday. Employees are entitled to at least one rest day per week in Singapore.

    If an employee is on unpaid or approved paid leave (as per their company’s laws) before or after a public holiday, they are still eligible for paid leave on the holiday.

    Employees on approved paid/unpaid long leave do not get extra pay or leave in lieu if the public holiday falls during their leave.

    Navigating Payments During Off Days

    The Ministry of Manpower (MoM) has well-defined guidelines for employers on how to manage pay or leave in lieu of work done on public holidays or rest days. This is to protect the rights of employees and ensure fair compensation for extra hours worked.

    Remuneration for work on public holidays

    Employees are entitled to different compensations for working on a public holiday depending on the day it falls on.

    If a public holiday falls onEmployee entitlements
    A working day1 additional day’s salary according to the basic pay rateGross rate of pay for that holidayOvertime pay only if the employee worked beyond normal working hours
    A non-working day (Saturday is a non-working day for employees on a 5-day workweek contract)Another day off or 1 day’s salary at the gross rate of payOvertime pay if worked beyond normal working hours
    A rest day (Sunday is a rest day)1 day’s salary for half day worked and 2 day’s salary for a full day of workOvertime pay is worked beyond usual hours

    Employees must know that if the Employment Act does not cover them, their compensation for working on rest days (weekly off days, usually Sunday), non-working days (Saturdays for 5-day workweek arrangements), or public holidays depends on their employment contract.

    Access Financial Simplifies Compliance for You

    We understand that managing your business and ensuring compliance with Employment Laws can be challenging when operating from afar. Our EOR and Employed solutions include comprehensive contract management, payroll outsourcing, and umbrella services. Our compliant solutions mitigate tax liabilities, boost take-home revenues, and minimise administration for corporates, contractors, and recruiters while fully subscribing to Singapore’s labour, tax, and company laws.

    Please speak to our team today!

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