KUALA LUMPUR: All employers should give their workers at least half a day off with pay, to enable them to exercise their democratic right as voters should polling day fall on a working day.
Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) president Mohd Khalid Atan said a better move would be for the government to make it an off day.
"It is difficult to pinpoint a time frame to be given for workers to cast their votes as it may differ according to the area and traffic condition.
"For example, if the worker is given two hours off to vote but for some reason it takes longer for him to resume work, it would reflect badly on him or her," Khalid told the New Straits Times yesterday.
He added that for this reason, it would be better off if employees, who were registered voters, were given half a day or the whole day off.
Malaysian Employers Federation executive director Shamsuddin Bardan echoed Khalid's sentiment.
"It is provided under the law that every Malaysian registered as a voter should cast votes on polling day. There is no one, including employers, who can stop one from doing so."
Employers found barring their workers from voting could be fined a hefty penalty, he added.
Shamsuddin did not specify the duration of the time-off to be given to workers, but said it should be "reasonable", taking into consideration the location and timing.http://www.nst.com.my/top-news/give-time-off-to-vote-says-mtuc-1.243925
No comments:
Post a Comment