Sabah Private Sector Employers Told To Observe Replacement Holidays

KOTA KINABALU, May 20 (Bernama) -- Private sector employers in Sabah who observe Sunday as employees’ rest day may need to provide up to three consecutive paid holidays in June 2026 following the overlap of the Kaamatan Festival, Wesak Day and the Birthday of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

The Sabah Labour Department (JTK) said the Kaamatan Festival falls on May 30 and 31, while Wesak Day also falls on May 31, according to the First Schedule of the Holidays Ordinance (Sabah Cap. 56).

"Under the Sabah Labour Ordinance (Sabah Cap. 67), the Birthday of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong is one of the five mandatory paid holidays that employers must grant workers and it cannot be replaced with another day,” the department said in a statement today.

It said the Kaamatan Festival and Wesak Day, meanwhile, are holidays that employers may choose to grant as paid holidays under subsection 103(1)(a) of the Sabah Labour Ordinance, while subsection 103(1)(b) of the ordinance further provides that any holiday falling on a rest day must be replaced with the next working day.

“For employers who choose the Kaamatan Festival and Wesak Day as paid holidays and designate Sunday as employees’ rest day, June 1, 2026 (Monday) must be observed as a paid holiday for the Birthday of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong,” it said.

JTK said June 2 (Tuesday) must be observed as a replacement paid holiday for the Kaamatan Festival, while June 3 must be observed as a replacement paid holiday for Wesak Day as both celebrations fall on a rest day.

“However, the replacement holidays for the Kaamatan Festival and Wesak Day may be amended to other days with the consent of employees as provided under the proviso of subsection 103(2) of the Sabah Labour Ordinance,” the statement said.

It added that employees earning wages not exceeding RM4,000 a month, as well as employees specified under paragraph 2 of the First Schedule of the ordinance, are entitled to holiday pay rates if instructed by employers to work on paid holidays.

-- BERNAMA