As HR professionals and business owners, staying ahead of the public holiday calendar is crucial for smooth operations and employee satisfaction. Let's dive into Singapore's public holidays for 2025 and unlock some smart planning tips!
Planning Your 2025: Singapore's Public Holiday Calendar Made Easy
Let’s take a look at 2025 Singapore public holidays announced by MOM :
* Subject to confirmation.
And let’s continue with some tips for employees to arrange your leaves to maximize the weekend.
Public Holiday in January 2025: New Year’s Day, Chinese New Year
- January 1 (Wednesday): New Year's Day
- January 29-30 (Wednesday-Thursday): Chinese New Year
Pro Tip: With Chinese New Year, applying leave on Jan 31 could create a five-day weekend. Employers should consider implementing a skeleton crew to maintain essential operations while allowing most employees to enjoy an extended break.
Public Holiday in March-April 2025: Hari Raya Puasa, Good Friday
- March 31 (Monday): Hari Raya Puasa
- April 18 (Friday): Good Friday
Long Weekend Alert: Good Friday creates a natural three-day weekend. Encourage team bonding by organizing company events around these dates!
Public Holiday in May 2025: Labour Day, Vesak Day
- May 1 (Thursday): Labour Day
- May 12 (Monday): Vesak Day
Vacation Planning Tip: Taking May 2 off turns Labour Day into a four-day weekend. For Vesak Day, employees can enjoy another long weekend.
Public Holiday in June-August 2025: Hari Raya Haji, National Day
- June 7 (Saturday): Hari Raya Haji
- August 9 (Saturday): National Day
Important Note: When public holidays fall on Saturday, employees are entitled to compensation - either a day off or salary in lieu.
Public Holiday in October-December 2025: Deepavali, Christmas Day
- October 20 (Monday): Deepavali
- December 25 (Thursday): Christmas Day
Long Weekend Alert: Taking December 26 off turns Christmas Day into a four-day weekend.
Public Holiday Pay: What Every Singapore Employer Should Know
Understanding public holiday pay is crucial for HR professionals and employers in Singapore. Let's break down the key points according to the Employment Act:
Basic Entitlement
All employees covered by the Employment Act are entitled to 11 paid public holidays per year. It's important to note that:
- Employers and employees can mutually agree to substitute a public holiday for another working day. (Read more: A Comprehensive Guide to Calculate Overtime Pay in Singapore)
- This ensures flexibility while maintaining employee benefits.
Compensation for Working on Public Holidays
When employees are required to work on a public holiday, they are entitled to:
- An extra day's salary at the basic rate of pay
- PLUS their gross rate of pay for that day
Time-Off-In-Lieu Option
Employers have the flexibility to grant time-off-in-lieu instead of extra pay for certain employee categories. This applies to:
- Workmen earning more than $4,500 a month
- Non-workmen earning more than $2,600 a month
- All Managers and Executives
Important Note: The number of hours for time-off-in-lieu must be mutually agreed upon between employer and employee. (Read more: Comprehensive Guide to Time Off in Lieu for Employers and HR in Singapore)
Best Practices for Employers
Here are some tips for HR professionals and employers to prepare for upcoming public holidays:
- Clear Communication: Document and communicate your public holiday policy clearly
- Fair Implementation: Ensure consistent application across eligible employee groups
- Proper Documentation: Keep records of any mutual agreements for holiday substitution
- System Updates: Regularly update your HR systems to reflect current salary thresholds (Read more: Top 5 HR Software for Small & Medium Businesses in Singapore)
Common Questions About Public Holiday Pay
Q1: How is the extra day's salary calculated?
A: The extra day's salary is calculated at the basic rate of pay, not including allowances or other additional payments.
Q2: Can an employer force an employee to work on a public holiday?
A: While employers can request employees to work on public holidays, proper compensation must be provided as per the Employment Act.
Q3: Do part-time employees get public holiday pay?
A: Yes, part-time employees are entitled to pro-rated public holiday pay based on their working hours. (Read more: Understanding Part-Time Employment Regulations in Singapore)
Simplify Public Holiday Payroll with HR Software
Managing public holiday pay calculations can be complex, especially with different employee categories and compensation options. This is where having reliable HR software becomes invaluable. With Swingvy, you can:
- Automatically calculate correct public holiday pay for different employee categories
- Track time-off-in-lieu arrangements
- Ensure compliance with Singapore employment laws
Want to make your HR processes smoother in 2025? Try Swingvy today!
Related Posts
Complete Guide to Singapore's Annual Leave Rules
Guide to Sick Leave Entitlement and Eligibility in Singapore
Understanding Childcare Leave in Singapore
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