# Public holiday pay: what you get for working on a public holiday

> The extra pay for working on a public holiday on a working day, a non-working day or a rest day, the gross and basic daily rates, and the deduction for an unexcused absence.

- Tool: [Public Holiday Pay Calculator](https://toolsg.com/en/public-holiday-pay-calculator)
- Language: en (available: en, zh)
- Last verified against official sources: 2026-10-30
- Source site: ToolSG — a planning guide, not official or financial advice. Cite the agencies listed under Sources.

## Key figures at a glance

| Fact | Value | Source |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Paid public holidays | 11 a year — Employees covered by the Employment Act. | [MOM](https://www.mom.gov.sg/employment-practices/public-holidays-entitlement-and-pay) |
| Working on a holiday on a working day | An extra day’s salary at the basic rate — On top of monthly salary, plus overtime beyond normal hours. | [MOM](https://www.mom.gov.sg/employment-practices/public-holidays-entitlement-and-pay) |
| Holiday on a non-working day | Another day off or one extra day’s salary at the gross rate — For example Saturday on a 5-day week. | [MOM](https://www.mom.gov.sg/employment-practices/public-holidays-entitlement-and-pay) |
| Holiday on a rest day | The next working day is the paid holiday — For example Sunday. | [MOM](https://www.mom.gov.sg/employment-practices/public-holidays-entitlement-and-pay) |
| Unexcused absence next to a holiday | One day’s pay at the gross rate can be deducted — Authorised leave does not count as absence. | [MOM](https://www.mom.gov.sg/employment-practices/public-holidays-entitlement-and-pay) |

## What you get

| The holiday falls on | If you work | If you do not work |
| --- | --- | --- |
| A working day | An extra day’s salary at the **basic** rate, plus overtime beyond normal hours | Normal pay, as your monthly salary already covers the holiday |
| A non-working day (Saturday on a 5-day week) | Another day off or one extra day’s salary at the **gross** rate | The same |
| A rest day (Sunday) | The next working day is the paid holiday | The same |

Holiday pay is your **gross rate of pay** for the day, as long as you were not absent without consent or a reasonable excuse on the working day before or after. Authorised leave such as sick, annual or unpaid leave does not count against you, but the holiday is not paid if it falls on approved unpaid leave.

## How the daily rate is worked out

**Daily rate = 12 × monthly pay ÷ (52 × days worked a week)**, using basic pay for the basic rate and gross pay for the gross rate.

- Basic $3,000 on a 5-day week: 12 × 3,000 ÷ 260 = **$138.46**.
- Gross $3,300 on a 5-day week: 12 × 3,300 ÷ 260 = **$152.31**.

Overtime is 1.5 times the hourly basic rate, which is 12 × basic ÷ (52 × 44).

## Time off in lieu

By mutual agreement you can swap a public holiday for another working day. Employees not covered by Part 4 of the Employment Act can take time off in lieu: if you cannot agree, the employer picks an extra day’s salary at the basic rate, 4 hours off if you worked 4 hours or less, or a full day off if you worked more.

## Related tools

- [Public holidays](https://toolsg.com/en/public-holidays) — the dates for 2026 and 2027.
- [Overtime pay calculator](https://toolsg.com/en/overtime-pay-calculator) — pay for extra hours.
- [Prorated salary calculator](https://toolsg.com/en/prorated-salary-calculator) — pay for part of a month.

## Frequently asked questions

**How much extra do I get for working on a public holiday?**

An extra day’s salary at the basic rate of pay, on top of your monthly salary, plus overtime for hours beyond normal hours.

**What if the holiday falls on a Saturday on a 5-day week?**

Saturday is a non-working day, so you get another day off or one extra day’s salary at the gross rate.

**What if it falls on my rest day?**

The next working day is a paid public holiday instead.

**Can my employer deduct pay if I was absent next to a holiday?**

Yes, one day’s pay at the gross rate, if you were absent without consent or a reasonable excuse on the working day before or after.

**How is the daily rate worked out?**

12 × monthly pay ÷ (52 × days worked a week).


## Sources

- [MOM — Public holidays: entitlement and pay](https://www.mom.gov.sg/employment-practices/public-holidays-entitlement-and-pay) — Rules and pay by type of day (updated 30 Jul 2025).