Deepavali falls on a Sunday this year. A common question from factory workers: is Monday 9 November a day off? And if my factory asks me to work, what should I be paid? This article answers based on Labour Department statements reported in the media and Johor holiday listings. For the full going-home calendar, read the Sabah & Sarawak holiday calendar 2026.
Information as of 6 Nov 2026. We still found no gazette or specific Johor announcement about 9 November, and the sources we checked disagree, so confirm with your employer.
Deepavali dates in Johor
- Deepavali: Sunday, 8 November 2026.
- The Office Holidays list for Johor shows Monday, 9 November as the day in lieu.
- The Singapore Consulate page in Johor Bahru also lists 9 November as a replacement day. Its layout is muddled, so treat it as a pointer only.
The official Johor State Government holiday page (accessed 6 Nov 2026) lists Deepavali on Sunday 8/11/2026 (marked subject to amendment) and says a holiday that falls on a Sunday is replaced on the next working day. That points to Monday 9 November, but the page does not name 9 November.
Other sources disagree. The ecentral Johor holiday list (based on the Prime Minister's Department Cabinet Division schedule) shows only 8 November, with no replacement-day note. A holiday blog (Blogmalaysia) says the federal 9 November replacement does not apply in Johor, and AJobThing lists only 8 November for Johor. So 9 November as a Johor public holiday is unconfirmed.
None of these is an official gazette. What decides your rights is your contract and your company's public holiday list.
The replacement day rule for private-sector workers
The Labour Department Peninsular Malaysia (JTKSM) explained this rule when a public holiday fell on a Sunday, for example Federal Territory Day 2026 (Bernama) and the Selangor Sultan's Silver Jubilee holiday (NasionalDaily):
- If the employer sets Sunday as the weekly rest day, the employee must be given a substitute holiday on the next working day, which is Monday.
- The employer may give another day as a paid substitute, but only with the employee's agreement (section 60D(1A), Employment Act 1955).
Those statements were not about Deepavali. So ask your employer whether Deepavali is on the company's paid holiday list and which day is given in return. Many Johor factories rest on Saturday and Sunday. Since 1 January 2025 Johor's weekend is back to Saturday-Sunday for most private employers (The Star). Your rest day follows your contract.
If the factory asks you to work on a public holiday
According to JTKSM, employees directed to work on a public holiday are entitled to the public holiday pay rate under section 60D(3) (Bernama).
The text of the Employment Act 1955 as reproduced by law firm Low & Partners says:
- Work within normal hours on a paid holiday (section 60D(3)(a)(i)): monthly, weekly, daily or hourly-paid employees get two days' wages at the ordinary rate of pay, on top of that day's holiday pay.
- Overtime on a public holiday (section 60D(3)(aa)): not less than three times the hourly rate.
Payroll guides such as AJobThing and KC Group give the same figures. Who is covered depends on wage and type of work (some sources say employees earning over RM4,000 are outside some of these provisions, except categories such as manual labour). We found no official JTKSM note on the calculation, so if your payslip looks different, ask JTKSM. The full OT table is in OT, rest day and public holiday pay. For how to complain, see JTK Johor Bahru: wage complaints and worker rights.
Tips for the long weekend
- Ask for the work schedule in writing or by message, at least a few days ahead.
- Keep photos of your payslip and time card for November. Our guide to payslip deductions helps you read each line.
- If you stay in the room: lock the door, do not leave valuables in the living area, and tell the house manager if you are going home. See also room safety tips.
- Plan tickets early if you are going home. Not every factory gives Monday off.
What to do & who to call
| Situation | What to do | |---|---| | Not sure if Mon 9 Nov is a day off | Ask your employer or HR; request the answer in writing | | Told to work on 8 or 9 Nov | Ask how it will be paid and keep a record of your hours | | Employer offers a different day in return | Make sure you agree; it needs the employee's consent | | Pay not matching your rights | Contact the Labour Department office; see the guide above |
Common mistakes
- Assuming every factory closes on Monday. It depends on your rest day and the company's holiday list.
- Accepting "just work now, we will replace later" without details. Ask for the day and the pay first.
- Not keeping records. Without time cards and payslips, a complaint is hard to make.
- Trusting unsourced WhatsApp messages about pay rates.
Related: minimum wage RM1,700 and worker rights and 2027 Johor public holidays.
Looking for a room in Senai?
If you are looking for a worker room near your factory in Senai, see our current rooms and pricing or WhatsApp +60 12-708 8789 (https://wa.me/60127088789) to check availability.
FAQ
When is Deepavali 2026? Sunday, 8 November 2026, according to the Johor holiday listings we checked.
Is Monday 9 November a replacement holiday? Holiday listings show yes for Johor, but we found no official Johor gazette or announcement. For private-sector workers whose rest day is Sunday, JTKSM says the substitute is given on the next working day. Confirm with your employer.
What is the pay for working on a public holiday? Per the Act text (section 60D(3)): work within normal hours is paid two days' wages at the ordinary rate on top of holiday pay, and overtime on a public holiday is at least three times the hourly rate. Coverage depends on wage and type of work; ask JTKSM if unsure.
Can my employer change the replacement day? Yes, with the employee's agreement (section 60D(1A)).
Where do I complain? The Labour Department. See our complaints guide.
Is my child's school off on 9 or 10 November? A SAYS summary (27 Oct 2026, citing the Ministry of Education academic calendar) lists Group B schools including Johor as closed on 9 and 10 November. Other sources only mention 10 November. Ask the school or check the Ministry of Education announcement.
My employer says 9 November is not a holiday. Is that wrong? Not necessarily. 9 November as a Johor public holiday is unconfirmed. But JTKSM has said that when a public holiday falls on a Sunday, employees whose weekly rest day is Sunday should get a substitute on the next working day. Ask your employer to explain in writing.
I am from Sabah. Do the same rights apply? The sources we checked describe coverage by wage and type of work, not nationality. Sabahans and Sarawakians do not need a work permit in Johor.
Sumber / Sources
- Johor State Government, public holidays 2026 (accessed 6 Nov 2026)
- SAYS, extra Deepavali school holidays 2026 (27 Oct 2026; accessed 6 Nov 2026)
- Office Holidays, Deepavali in Johor 2026
- Singapore Consulate in Johor Bahru, Johor Bahru Public Holidays
- Bernama, Thaipusam, Federal Territory Day gazetted as 2026 public holidays (JTKSM statement)
- NasionalDaily, Selangor private employers must give paid holiday for Sultan's Silver Jubilee (2 Oct 2026)
- The Star, Johor realigns its weekend (8 Oct 2024)
- ecentral, Johor public holidays 2026 (Cabinet Division schedule)
- Blogmalaysia, Deepavali 2026
- AJobThing, Johor public holidays 2026
- Low & Partners, Employment Act 1955 (sections 60A, 60D text)
- AJobThing, Public holiday pay 2026
- KC Group, Overtime pay Malaysia 2026
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