Singapore’s next General Election will be held on:
Saturday, 3 May 2025
This day has been designated as a public holiday — not only to fulfill our civic duty as voters, but also as an important occasion linked to employment rights and entitlements.
So how will the day off, pay arrangements, and school closures work on polling day? Let’s break it down 👇
01｜Polling Day Is a Public Holiday — What Are Employees Entitled To?
According to Singapore’s Ministry of Manpower (MOM):
All employees covered under the Employment Act are entitled to a paid public holiday.
Employers must adhere to the following rules based on different scenarios:
- If 3 May (Saturday) is the employee’s non-working day:
The employer must grant a day off in lieu or pay public holiday compensation. - If the employee is required to work on Polling Day:
The employee is entitled to an extra day’s salary or a substitute day off.
02｜What About Managers or High-Salary Employees?
For the following employee groups, employers may negotiate time-off arrangements with the employee:
- White-collar employees earning more than S$4,500/month
- Non-white-collar employees earning more than S$2,600/month (e.g. technical staff)
- All managers, executives, and professionals
MOM encourages employers to engage in early, transparent communication to align on compensation arrangements.
03｜School Holiday Notice (For Parents)
As polling day falls on a Saturday, Singapore’s Ministry of Education (MOE) has announced:
Monday, 5 May 2025 will be a school holiday, applicable to:
All MOE Kindergartens, Primary Schools, Secondary Schools, Junior Colleges, and Millennia Institute.
Classes will resume on Tuesday, 6 May 2025.
Please note: This school holiday does not affect business operations. Companies will continue to operate as usual.
Polling Day isn’t just a time to cast your vote —
it also involves key rights and responsibilities for both employers and employees.
📌 Employers: Take note of your obligations and discuss arrangements with your staff in advance.
📌 Employees: Know your entitlements and protect your right to fair time-off or compensation.
