Sarawak 2026 Public Holiday Overlap: Wesak, Hari Keputeraan Agong & Gawai

If we are working or managing teams in Sarawak, early June 2026 is something we really need to take note of. There is a rare overlap of major public holidays involving Hari Wesak, Hari Gawai, and Hari Keputeraan Yang di-Pertuan Agong, creating a long holiday stretch and raising questions about replacement leave (cuti gantian).

To clarify, the Jabatan Tenaga Kerja (JTK) Sarawak has issued official guidance on how these public holidays should be applied for both employers and employees.

This guide breaks everything down in a simple way so we can plan work schedules, payroll, and leave arrangements more effectively.

Public Holiday Schedule in Sarawak (June 2026)

Here is how the holiday falls in 2026:

31 May 2026 (Sunday) – Hari Wesak
1 June 2026 (Monday) – Hari Gawai & Hari Keputeraan Yang di-Pertuan Agong
2 June 2026 (Tuesday) – Hari Gawai (Hari Kedua)
3 June 2026 (Wednesday) – Cuti gantian Hari Wesak
4 June 2026 (Thursday) – Cuti gantian Hari Gawai

Because of this arrangement, employees in Sarawak may experience a continuous long break depending on company implementation.

Why This Holiday Overlap Happens

This situation happens because:

Hari Wesak falls on Sunday (rest day)
Hari Gawai and Hari Keputeraan Yang di-Pertuan Agong fall on the same day (1 June 2026)
Hari Gawai continues for 2 days (1–2 June)

So when public holidays fall on rest days or overlap, labour law requires replacement days to be given.

This is where cuti gantian comes in.

Legal Basis (What Employers Need to Know)

Source: Jabatan Tenaga Kerja Sarawak

Under Subsection 104(1), Labour Ordinance Sarawak (Chapter 76):

Hari Keputeraan Yang di-Pertuan Agong is a compulsory public holiday
It must be granted and cannot be replaced

However:

Hari Wesak and Hari Gawai are replaceable holidays
If they fall on a rest day or overlap with another public holiday, replacement leave must be given

The law also states that the next working day becomes the replacement holiday unless otherwise agreed.

That is why:

3 June 2026 → replacement for Wesak Day
4 June 2026 → replacement for Gawai Day

Can Employers Change the Replacement Holiday Dates?

Yes, but there is one condition.

Under Subsection 104(2), employers and employees can agree to shift replacement holidays to another date.

However:

It must be a mutual agreement
Employers cannot change it unilaterally

So HR teams should always communicate early with employees to avoid confusion in scheduling.

Employee Rights If Working on These Holidays

If employees are required to work on:

Public holiday
Replacement holiday (cuti gantian)

They are entitled to additional payment under the Labour Ordinance Sarawak, including:

Higher daily rate (holiday pay)
Overtime pay if applicable
Special holiday compensation depending on working hours

In simple terms:

Work on public holiday = extra pay wajib ikut undang-undang

Why This Matters for Employers

This is not just a “calendar update”. For HR and employers, this overlap affects:

Payroll planning

Extra holiday pay and overtime cost will increase during this period.

Workforce scheduling

Long consecutive holidays may affect shift coverage, especially for:

Manufacturing
Retail
Customer support
Healthcare

Leave management

Employees may try to extend leave around this period, so HR should plan approval early.

Business operations

Companies may need to prepare skeleton staff or rotating shifts.

Key Takeaway

To make it easy:

Yes, there is a long holiday stretch in Sarawak (31 May – 4 June 2026)
Wesak & Gawai get replacement holidays
Hari Keputeraan Yang di-Pertuan Agong is compulsory and cannot be replaced.
Employers and employees can adjust replacement dates if agreed
Working on these days requires extra pay

FAQs

Why is there a long holiday in early June 2026?

Because Hari Wesak, Hari Gawai, and Hari Keputeraan Yang di-Pertuan Agong fall very close together, creating overlapping public holidays.

Do employees get replacement leave automatically?

Yes, if a public holiday falls on a rest day or overlaps, replacement leave is required under Sarawak Labour Ordinance.

Can Hari Keputeraan Yang di-Pertuan Agong be replaced?

No. It is a compulsory public holiday and must be observed on the actual date.

Can HR change replacement holiday dates?

Yes, but only if both employer and employee agree.

What happens if employees work during holidays?

They must be paid extra according to labour law (holiday pay + overtime where applicable).

Who is covered under this rule?

Employees under the Sarawak Labour Ordinance (Chapter 76). Some company policies may differ, but cannot reduce statutory rights.

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