The National Economic Development and Labor Council (NEDLAC) has called on employers to give workers time off to vote in the May 29 general election.
With 25 days left until Election Day, NEDLAC urges employers who provide essential services or require their employees to be present on Election Day to ensure that their employees visit designated polling locations. We requested that appropriate measures be taken to ensure that appropriate measures are taken.
Kaiser Moyane, business convener at NEDLAC, said: “Today is a public holiday, but there are some companies that trade on the 29th despite the public holiday. So what we are asking employers to do is: There is a practical way to do this: balance business interests with the human rights of workers who are entitled to vote, if you will. ”
Moyane added that employers could be charged with unfair labor practices if they try to garnish the wages of workers who vote.
“If an employee is entitled to time off, such as because they are not performing essential work, then they must be paid for those days, regardless of the nature of the contract. If it is seized, it will be an unfair labor practice and the Department of Labor and the CCMA will side with the employee in that regard.”
2024 Elections | NEDLAC urges employers to give workers time to vote