Singapore announces 2027 public holidays; employees working on holidays to receive extra pay

Singapore has announced its list of 11 gazetted public holidays for 2027, with several dates creating long weekends for employees and businesses across the country.

According to the Ministry of Manpower (MOM), the public holiday calendar includes New Year's Day on January 1 (Friday), Good Friday on March 26 (Friday), Hari Raya Haji on May 17 (Monday), and National Day on August 9 (Monday), all of which will result in three-day weekends.

In addition, Chinese New Year falls on February 6 and 7, 2027. As the second day of the festival falls on a Sunday, Monday, February 8, will be observed as a public holiday.

The 2027 public holiday schedule also includes Hari Raya Puasa on March 10 (Wednesday), Vesak Day on May 20 (Thursday), Deepavali on October 28 (Thursday), and Christmas Day on December 25 (Saturday).

The announcement serves as an important guide for employers and employees planning leave schedules, workforce deployment, and business operations for the year ahead.

The Ministry also reiterated the payment provisions for employees who are required to work on public holidays. Employees covered under the Employment Act are entitled to 11 paid public holidays annually. Employers and employees may mutually agree to substitute a public holiday with another working day.

Employees who work on a public holiday must receive an additional day's salary at their basic rate of pay, on top of their gross pay for that day.

For certain categories of employees, including workmen earning more than S$4,500 per month, non-workmen earning more than S$2,600 per month, and all managers and executives, employers may alternatively grant time off in lieu for work performed on a public holiday, based on a mutually agreed number of hours.

The ministry encouraged employers and employees to familiarize themselves with the public holiday provisions under the Employment Act to ensure compliance and fair compensation arrangements.