Kota kinabalu: Private sector employers in Sabah who designate Sunday as a rest day for their employees may have to provide up to three consecutive paid holidays in June 2026 due to the alignment of several public holidays.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the Sabah Labour Department (JTK) has highlighted that the Kaamatan Festival, falling on May 30 and 31, coincides with Wesak Day on May 31, as per the First Schedule of the Holidays Ordinance (Sabah Cap. 56). The department noted that the Birthday of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, a mandatory paid holiday under the Sabah Labour Ordinance (Sabah Cap. 67), is also scheduled during this period and cannot be substituted with another day.

The JTK explained that while the Birthday of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong must be observed, the Kaamatan Festival and Wesak Day are optional paid holidays under subsection 103(1)(a) of the Sabah Labour Ordinance. Subsection 103(1)(b) further stipulates that any holiday falling on a rest day must be replaced with the next working day.

For employers opting to recognize the Kaamatan Festival and Wesak Day as paid holidays, and who also consider Sunday as a rest day, June 1, 2026, which is a Monday, must be observed as a paid holiday for the Birthday of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong. Subsequently, June 2 (Tuesday) must be observed as a replacement paid holiday for the Kaamatan Festival, and June 3 must be observed for Wesak Day, as both fall on a rest day.

The department added that the replacement holidays for the Kaamatan Festival and Wesak Day could be adjusted to other dates with employee consent, as allowed under subsection 103(2) of the Sabah Labour Ordinance. It also emphasized that employees earning wages not exceeding RM4,000 per month, as well as those specified under paragraph 2 of the First Schedule of the ordinance, are entitled to holiday pay rates if required to work on these paid holidays.