Employers Must Grant Employees Time Off From Work To Vote – Malaysian Employers Federation

A lot of Malaysians are unhappy with the news as the election would take place mid-week on a Wednesday. For those who are registered in their hometowns, it would be a great hassle for them to plan their journey and take additional time off to go cast their votes.

Some are also concerned that their employers won’t grant their leave application as everyone would be applying for time off on the same date.

Well, it turns out that employers must grant their workers some time-off to go and vote.

The Malaysian Employers Federation says that employers are duty-bound to grant permission for their workers to vote on election day.

The federation’s executive director Datuk Shamsuddin Bardan told The Star that “bosses must allow employees who are registered voters to have a reasonable amount of time off.”

This is especially for those who are registered at polling centres nearby.

Shamsuddin recommended that time-off be given in a staggered manner so that the company’s operation would not be disrupted too much.

As for workers who are registered in another state, employers are not expected to grant time-off but should grant the annual leave if applied.

“It is the national duty of employers to make sure their employees are able to cast their votes,” Shamsuddin told the English daily.

The Ministry of Human Resources has also issued a statement in regards to employers granting their workers the right to vote or time off on polling day.

According to the Election Offences Act 1954, employers must allow their employees a reasonable period of voting.

Under Section 25(3) of the Act, any employer who refuses to allow workers to go out and vote on polling day is liable to a fine of not more than RM5,000 or one year in jail upon conviction.