Bengaluru: The Election Commission of India has reiterated that, as per law, all employees who are entitled to vote must be granted a paid holiday on the day of polling. This applies to those employed in any business, trade, industrial undertaking, or other establishment.Polling for the ongoing elections will be held on April 9 in Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Goa, Karnataka, Nagaland and Tripura. Tamil Nadu, Gujarat and Maharashtra will vote on April 23, while West Bengal will go to polls in two phases on April 23 and 29.“No deduction of wages shall be made on account of such a paid holiday. Any employer who contravenes these provisions shall be liable to a fine. All daily wage and casual workers are also entitled to a paid holiday on the day of the poll,” the Commission said in a communiqué issued Friday. The Commission further stated that electors — including casual and daily wage workers — employed in establishments located outside their constituency, but registered as voters in a constituency going to polls, are entitled to paid leave.Labour secretary Salma Fahim said, “Directions have been received from the chief secretary, and the director of factories and boilers has issued a circular to all factories. Meanwhile, shops and commercial establishments have also been issued the notification through the labour department. Additionally, the labour officers and labour inspectors have been told to reach out to all shops and commercial establishments in their jurisdictions and issue the circular.“Highlighting gaps in implementation, Labour minister Santosh Lad said, “There is no documented account of how many migrant workers come and go, making it difficult to track compliance with the paid leave mandate. This is especially challenging as the employment is short-term and highly migratory in nature.”The hotel sector, which employs a large number of migrant workers, anticipates disruptions. Subramanya Holla, president of the Bangalore Hotels Association, told TOI, “While the LPG situation has improved with supplies and alternatives such as diesel and wood fire, labour has always been in short supply in the sector. Elections are usually a time when we grant paid leave. However, we also risk nearly 30% of employees not returning.“He added most workers in Karnataka’s hotel industry come from the northeastern states. “Elections will affect those from Assam, Nagaland, Tripura and West Bengal, who together account for about 35% of employees in both kitchen and customer-facing roles,” he added.
