Prior Beharry
SOME employees of United Engineering at the Pt Lisas are complaining that they are not getting time off to vote on election day on Monday.
One worker said they were told that because their shift was from 7 am to 3.30 pm they had ample time to go and vote before the polls closed at 6 pm.
The Election and Boundaries Commission (EBC) has advised employers about time off for workers during election day.
It has referred to the Representation of the People Act (RPA) and cited Election Rule 28 which states: “Every employer shall permit each elector in his employment to be absent from his work on polling day during the hours of the poll for two hours in addition to the normal midday hour.”
Section 36 (2) of the RPA states: “Every employer on polling day allow every elector in his employ the prescribed period for voting and no employer shall make any deduction from the pay or other remuneration of any such elector or impose upon or exact from him any penalty by reason of his absence during that period.”
And Section 93 stated that an employer who failed to comply with any of the provisions of Section 36(2) can be liable on summary conviction to a fine of $30,000 or 12 months in prison.
When contacted a senior company official said he had no comment to make on the matter.
Why didn’t the employees union ( All Trinidad) intervene on their behalf? Workers pay union dues for precisely these kinds of situations.
If this true. Employer must be prosecuted forthwith. It appears that there is ample evidence to do