KUCHING: Sarawakians celebrating Gawai can look forward to an extended festive break this year, as the second day of Gawai on June 2 (a Monday) overlaps with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s birthday, and will be replaced with a holiday on June 3 (Tuesday).
In an official statement released on May 8, the Sarawak Department of Labour confirmed that the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s birthday is a compulsory public holiday under the Sarawak Labour Ordinance, and must be observed by all employers, resulting in the rescheduling of Gawai, which is a non-mandatory cultural holiday.
The statement explained that eligible employees will receive a replacement holiday on June 3, though employers and employees may mutually agree on an alternative date as permitted under Section 104(2) of the Labour Ordinance (Sarawak Chapter 76).
In the statement, the department also highlighted that if any public holiday falls on an employee’s rest day, the following working day must be treated as the replacement holiday.
“For instance, if June 1 is a rest day, then June 3 will serve as the first Gawai holiday, followed by the second on June 4,” the statement stated.
The department also advised all employers to make the necessary arrangements in compliance with labour laws while respecting the cultural significance of the Gawai celebration.
