PUBLIC HOLIDAYS FALLING ON SATURDAYS

PUBLIC HOLIDAYS FALLING ON SATURDAYS

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(Replacement): **

52.

Assoc. Prof. Kalyani K Mehta asked the Minister for Manpower in view of the majority of the working population observing a five-day work week, whether his Ministry will consider replacing a public holiday that falls on a Saturday with the following Monday and, if not, what are the valid reasons for maintaining the current status quo.

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Dr Ng Eng Hen: As companies within Singapore need to respond to different business environments, the 5-day week is not uniformly applied. In 2006, approximately 40% of full-time employees in the private sector worked five days a week. The share of employees who were on the 5.5-day and 6-day workweek arrangement constituted 15% and 16% respectively, while the remaining worked on shift work or with alternate Saturdays off. So a large proportion of workers would still enjoy a public holiday which falls on a Saturday. Workers covered under the Employment Act are already entitled to claim a day off or compensation in lieu, if a public holiday falls on a non-working day for their company. The current provisions are adequate to ensure that workers receive sufficient rest days and there is no need to impose the rule to replace a public holiday that falls on a Saturday with the following Monday.

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