By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, May 10: Employees in Sarawak who observe Gawai Dayak are entitled to a replacement holiday on June 3, 2025, following the overlap of the second day of Gawai celebration and the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s Birthday public holiday on June 2.
Sarawak Labour Department under the Ministry of Human Resources, said in a statement today that June 2, 2025, marks both the second day of the Gawai Dayak celebration and the Agong’s official birthday.
“Under Section 104(1) of the Labour Ordinance (Sarawak Chapter 76), the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s Birthday is a compulsory public holiday that must be granted to employees and cannot be substituted with another day, while Gawai Day is an optional public holiday determined based on the employee’s religion and culture.
“For employees covered under the Ordinance who are entitled to Gawai holiday, June 3, 2025 shall be observed as a replacement holiday,” it said.
However, employers and employees may mutually agree to observe the replacement Gawai holiday on a different date, in accordance with Section 104(2) of the Ordinance.
The department also reminded employers that if a public holiday falls on a rest day, the next working day must be treated as a replacement holiday.
“For example, if June 1, 2025, is a rest day for the employee, then June 3 shall be the replacement holiday for the first day of Gawai, while June 4 will serve as the second Gawai Day holiday,” it added. – DayakDaily
