2020 Holidays - Malaysia
Malaysia workweek and weekend
| Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday | Sunday |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Workday | Workday | Workday | Workday | Workday | Weekend | Weekend |
Malaysia Public Holiday Observance Rules
1. Entitlement to Public Holidays
- Employees are entitled to 11 paid public holidays each year, 5 of which are compulsory:
- National Day (Hari Merdeka)
- Yang di-Pertuan Agong's Birthday
- Birthday of the Ruler or Governor of the State (or Federal Territory Day)
- Labour Day
- Malaysia Day
- The remaining 6 holidays are chosen by the employer from the gazetted public holidays, with notice provided to employees before the start of each calendar year. Source
2. When a Public Holiday Falls on a Rest Day or Non-Working Day
- In states observing a Saturday–Sunday weekend, if a public holiday falls on Sunday (the rest day), it is substituted by a holiday on Monday.
- In states with a Friday–Saturday weekend (e.g., Kedah, Kelantan, Terengganu), if a public holiday falls on Friday (the rest day), it is replaced by a holiday on Sunday.
- If a public holiday falls on a non-working day that is not a rest day, there is no automatic replacement, and it is at the employer's discretion to provide a replacement. Source
3. When Two Public Holidays Fall on the Same Day
- For government institutions, there is no automatic replacement holiday when two public holidays fall on the same working day, although the government may designate another day as a public holiday.
- For private sector employees, if the employer chooses to observe both public holidays, a replacement holiday is given on the next working day, or another day if the employees agree. Source
4. Working on Public Holidays
- Employees required to work on a public holiday are entitled to:
- Their regular pay for the hours worked.
- An additional day's pay at the ordinary rate of pay.
- Alternatively, the employer may substitute the public holiday with another day. Source
5. Additional Notes
- Malaysia's public holidays are regulated at both federal and state levels, resulting in variations across different states and territories.
- Employers and employees should refer to the Employment Act 1955 and any applicable state laws or collective agreements for specific provisions related to public holidays and work schedules. Source