KUCHING: The Sarawak-level Labour Day 2026 celebration is scheduled to take place on 10 May at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK), with an attendance target of 3,000 participants.

Deputy Minister in the Sarawak Premier’s Department (Labour, Immigration and Project Monitoring), Datuk Gerawat Gala, said this year’s celebration carries the theme “Outstanding Workers, Progressive and Prosperous Sarawak”, reflecting the close relationship between a quality workforce and the state’s progress and prosperity.

“In line with our aspirations under the Post COVID-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030, Sarawak aims to become an advanced, progressive and high-income state by 2030,” he said.

He said this at a press conference after chairing the Main Committee Meeting for the Organisation of the Sarawak-level Labour Day Celebration 2026 at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) on Wednesday.

He added that this year’s target of 3,000 participants is also intended to surpass last year’s figure of 1,500 participants, which was recorded in the Malaysia Book of Records (MBOR) as the largest achievement ever documented and the first for Sarawak in 2025.

On the programme highlights, Datuk Gerawat Gala said the Sarawak Premier, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) Abang Abdul Rahman Zohari Tun Datuk Abang Openg, is scheduled to attend as the guest of honour to officiate the celebration, and will also launch the JobSarawak portal as an official platform to strengthen the labour market in the state.

In addition, he said the programme will feature the Outstanding Worker Award, which will be divided into two categories, namely the executive group and the non-executive group.

“For this celebration as well, for the first time we will introduce the Outstanding Employer Award.

“This award is specifically for employers and will be divided into two categories, namely ‘Large Companies’ and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs),” he said.

Datuk Gerawat added that the Labour Day 2026 programme will also include briefings and engagement sessions on amendments to the Labour Ordinance, following several important amendments that were implemented in December 2024.

Also present at the meeting were Director of the Immigration and Labour Management Unit (ILMU), Richard Lon, and Chairman of the Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) Sarawak Division, Zaidi Nasar. -UKASnews