Bosses cannot penalise employees for being absent from work to vote

Private employers are not allowed to impose penalties or make deductions from employees’ salaries if they are absent from work to go to the polls, says Human Resources Minister M Saravanan.

He said in a statement today that employers are bound by Subsection 25(1) of the Election Offences Act 1954.

The subsection states that every employer shall, on polling day, allow to every elector in his employ a reasonable period for voting, and that no employer shall make any deductions from the pay or other remunerations of any such elector or impose upon or exact from him any penalty by reason of his absence during such period.

Saravanan said employers should discuss with employees regarding the option of giving time off or leave to allow them to exercise their right to vote.

He said employers could give reasonable time off for workers whose polling stations are located near to their workplace.

They can also give a day off for workers who have to vote in areas located far away from their workplace. For employees who need more than one day to travel to their polling station, they can take annual leave, he said.

He added that employers can be fined up to RM5,000 or sentenced to jail for up to one year if they refuse to allow their employees to exercise their right to vote.