SINGAPORE - Next year, Chinese New Year celebrations will fall on Jan 31 and Feb 1, while Good Friday will be on April 18 and Vesak Day on May 13. Hari Raya Puasa is on July 28 while Hari Raya Haji is on Oct 5. Deepavali next year is slated to be on Oct 23, but is subject to change when Indian Almanac is available.

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The following is a press release from the Ministry of Manpower:

SINGAPORE PUBLIC HOLIDAYS 2014

The dates for the 11 gazetted public holidays for 2014 are as follows:

New Year's Day January 1, 2014 (Wednesday)

Chinese New Year January 31, 2014 and February 1, 2014 (Friday and Saturday)

Good Friday April 18, 2014 (Friday)

Labour Day May 1, 2014 (Thursday)

Vesak Day May 13, 2014 (Tuesday)

Hari Raya Puasa July 28, 2014 (Monday)

National Day August 9, 2014 (Saturday)

Hari Raya Haji October 5, 2014* (Sunday)

Deepavali October 23, 2014** (Thursday)

Christmas Day December 25, 2014 (Thursday)

* The following Monday will be a public holiday.

** Subject to change.

Tentatively, Deepavali will fall on, October 23 in 2014. This date will need to be reconfirmed against the Indian Almanac when it is available.

Should there be a change in the date, the Ministry of Manpower will issue a media release to announce the change accordingly.

The list of public holidays for 2014 is available on the Ministry of Manpower's website: http://www.mom.gov.sg/employment-practices/leaveand- holidays/Pages/public-holidays-2014.aspx.

DEEPAVALI DATE FOR 2013

The Deepavali date for 2013 has now been confirmed. The Hindu Advisory Board (HAB) has advised that Deepavali will fall on November 2, 2013 (Saturday) instead of November 3, 2013 (Sunday).

Since Deepavali is no longer on November 3, 2013 (Sunday), November 4, 2013 (Monday) will not be a public holiday. Instead, November 2, 2013 (Saturday) will be gazetted as a public holiday.

PAYMENT FOR WORK DONE ON A PUBLIC HOLIDAY

The Ministry would like to remind all employers that under the Employment Act, an employee who is required to work on a public holiday is entitled to an extra day's salary at the basic rate of pay, in addition to the gross rate of pay for that holiday. The employer and employee may mutually agree to substitute a public holiday for any other day.

PUBLIC HOLIDAYS ON SATURDAYS

For public holidays falling on Saturdays, an employee who is not required to work on Saturdays is entitled to claim a day off or compensation in lieu for that public holiday, if the employee is covered under the Employment Act.

For more information on the Public Holiday provisions under the Employment Act, please refer to the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) website.