GE15: MTUC urges govt to consider public holiday on polling day to allow workers to vote comfortably

PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) has received complaints about companies who will cut wages if any employee exceeds the time-off given to cast their vote on polling day for the 15th General Election.

MTUC secretary-general Kamarul Baharin Mansor said most private companies have yet to issue any circular pertaining to time-off for polling day.

“We hope the Human Resources Ministry will monitor and take action against companies that do so.

“Polling day is a day to commemorate democracy in Malaysia, as such it is best for the government to announce a holiday to enable all workers to exercise their right to vote,” Kamarul said in a statement Thursday (Nov 10).

Kamarul also said that the announcement of a public holiday a day before voting was not beneficial because voting day is a normal working day for those in the private sector.

Although companies will give them time-off to vote, the stipulated time is very short and adds pressure on employees returning to work, he added.

“Private companies operating on Saturdays can only give time-off to vote, which will inconvenience employees going out to vote and those working in the city will not be able to return to their hometowns to vote due to time constraints.

“The government should declare Nov 19 as a public holiday for Malaysia to allow private workers to cast their ballots comfortably,” he said.