Public holidays

Singapore observes eleven public holidays annually, as established by the Ministry of Manpower. For 2024, these are New Year's Day, Chinese New Year (two days), Good Friday, Hari Raya Puasa, Labour Day, Vesak Day, Hari Raya Haji, National Day, Deepavali, and Christmas Day.

Public holidays in Singapore are gazetted days on which most employees are entitled to a day off with full pay. When a public holiday falls on a Sunday, the following Monday is typically observed as a holiday in lieu, unless the holiday is already a two-day celebration such as Chinese New Year. Employees required to work on a public holiday are entitled to payment at their ordinary rate of pay plus an additional day's pay in lieu, or an additional day's pay if the employer grants a day off in lieu within a specified period.

The governing framework for public holidays derives from the Employment Act and related subsidiary legislation administered by Singapore's Ministry of Manpower. The specific dates and observance rules are gazetted annually and may vary slightly depending on lunar calendar calculations for certain festivals.

Employers must ensure payroll systems accurately reflect public holiday entitlements and correctly calculate additional payments when employees work on gazetted days. Payroll teams should maintain updated records of the annual public holiday calendar and track any days worked on public holidays to ensure timely payment of the prescribed allowances. Compliance requires clear communication with employees regarding public holiday schedules and payment policies, particularly for shift-based or continuous operations that require weekend or holiday staffing.