Friday holiday in FTs not a paid holiday according to Employment Act

The impromptu public holiday in Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, and Labuan is not a paid holiday covered by the Employment Act.

However, Human Resources Minister M Saravanan is encouraging employers in the three Federal Territories to give their workers a paid holiday anyway.

"Employers in the private sector are encouraged to give a paid public holiday to their workers," he said in a brief statement, noting that Friday's holiday is not covered by the Employment Act.

The Employment Act states employees are entitled to a paid holiday on eleven gazetted public holidays in a single calendar year.

Section 60D(b) does state that workers can get a paid holiday under any holiday declared as per Section 8 of the Holidays Act.

Unfortunately, Friday's holiday was declared by Federal Territories Minister Shahidan Kassim using Section 9(2) of the Holidays Act - meaning it is not covered as a paid holiday for workers.

Shahidan yesterday declared the impromptu holiday to celebrate Kuala Lumpur City FC (KL City FC) winning the Malaysia Cup for the first time since 1989.

The impromptu holiday, however, has met with mixed reactions.

Infectious diseases expert Dr Adeeba Kamarulzaman lamented that the holiday had affected the schedule of medical professional exams, which had already been affected by Covid-19 and resultant lockdowns.

The banking sector has also declared that it will stay open in Kuala Lumpur on Friday. - Mkini