As the leadership of organised business, labour, community a

• Published date: 04 May 2024
• Author: Thobeka Mthembu
• Publication title: Weekend Argus

According to the social partners at Nedlac, ensuring that every voter can exercise their fundamental constitutional right to participate in the election and cast their votes is of utmost importance

Despite election day being designated as a public holiday, there remain individuals, particularly those in essential services, as well as the retail and agricultural sectors, who are mandated to work on this day.

Nedlac emphasised that for our democracy to thrive and be truly sustainable, every registered voter needed to be granted the opportunity to cast their vote on election day.

Thulani Tshefuta, Nedlac’s community convenor said: “We encourage all employers to observe election day as a paid public holiday and, where possible, give workers the day off. This will enable all eligible workers to cast their votes and reduce pressure on voting stations as people rush to vote at night. It will also avoid voters being at risk of crime at night.”

He further explained that employers offering essential services or requiring staff to be present on election day should ensure that adequate provisions are made for employees to visit their designated voting stations.

Nedlac has called upon these employers to consider implementing measures such as adjusting shifts to allow...