6 long weekends for 2016 public holidays

The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) has released the list of public holidays for 2016.

The dates for the 11 gazetted public holidays next year are as follows:

Deepavali will fall on Nov 10 this year, as confirmed by the Hindu Advisory Board.

MOM reminds all employers that under the Employment Act, an employee who is required to work on a public holiday is entitled to an extra day's salary at the basic rate of pay in addition to the total rate of pay for that holiday.

Employers and employees may also mutually agree to substitute a public holiday for any other day. They may also grant time-off-in-lieu to an employee who is in a managerial or executive position who has to work on a public holiday, comprising such number of hours as mutually agreed.

For public holidays falling on Saturdays, an employee who is not required to work on Saturdays is entitled to claim a day off or compensation in lieu for that public holiday, if the employee is covered under the Employment Act.

More information on the public holiday provisions under the Employment Act is available on MOM's website.

ssandrea@sph.com.sg