KUCHING – The Sarawak-level Labour Day 2026 celebration will be held on 10 May at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK), with organisers targeting an attendance of 3,000 participants.
Deputy Minister in the Sarawak Premier’s Department (Labour, Immigration and Project Monitoring), Datuk Gerawat Gala, announced that this year’s event carries the theme “Outstanding Workers, Progressive and Prosperous Sarawak”.
He explained that the theme reflects the vital link between a quality workforce and Sarawak’s progress, in line with the state’s Post COVID-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030, which aims to achieve advanced, high-income status by 2030.
Speaking after chairing the main committee meeting for the celebration at BCCK, Datuk Gerawat highlighted that the target of 3,000 participants is intended to surpass last year’s record of 1,500 attendees.
The 2025 celebration was recognised in the Malaysia Book of Records (MBOR) as the largest Labour Day gathering ever documented in Sarawak.
The programme will be officiated by the Sarawak Premier, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) Abang Abdul Rahman Zohari Tun Datuk Abang Openg, who will also launch the JobSarawak portal.
The portal is designed to strengthen the labour market by providing a centralised platform for employment opportunities and workforce development.
Among the highlights of the celebration will be the Outstanding Worker Award, divided into two categories: executive and non-executive.
For the first time, organisers will also introduce the Outstanding Employer Award, which will recognise contributions from both large companies and small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
Datuk Gerawat added that the programme will include briefings and engagement sessions on amendments to the Labour Ordinance, following significant changes implemented in December 2024.
These sessions aim to ensure that employers and employees are well-informed about the updated regulations.
Also present at the committee meeting were Richard Lon, Director of the Immigration and Labour Management Unit (ILMU), and Zaidi Nasar, Chairman of the Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) Sarawak Division.
Their involvement underscores the collaborative effort between government agencies and labour organisations in preparing for the event.
The Labour Day 2026 celebration is expected to serve not only as a recognition of workers’ contributions but also as a platform to strengthen employer-employee relations and promote Sarawak’s vision of a progressive and prosperous workforce.
