Vote on 4 November, and Meth wants your boss to let you go
The employment and labour minister has asked employers to release workers for Wednesday's local government elections, which President Cyril Ramaphosa has declared a public holiday.
Employers should release their workers to vote in Wednesday’s Local Government Elections, the Minister of Employment and Labour, Nomakhosazana Meth, has said, with polling day falling on 4 November and President Cyril Ramaphosa having declared it a public holiday.
The call puts the question of the working day squarely in front of employers. Eligible South Africans from all walks of life will cast their votes at polling stations on Wednesday, and Meth has asked bosses to make room for that inside the ordinary rhythm of the workplace rather than around it.
“The right to vote is a cornerstone of our democracy and one of the most significant gains of our constitutional dispensation,” Meth said. “As a country, we must continue to safeguard this right and create an environment in which all eligible citizens are able to participate meaningfully in the democratic process.”
She framed the ask as a matter of planning rather than conflict. “We encourage employers and employees to work together in a spirit of cooperation and mutual respect,” she said. “Through proper planning and constructive engagement, workplaces can support employees who wish to cast their votes while ensuring that business operations continue effectively.”
“Democracy flourishes when citizens participate. Every eligible South African should be encouraged to make their voice heard through the ballot box and to contribute to the future of our nation,” Meth said.
The department said workplaces have an important role to play in fostering active citizenship and supporting democratic participation. It encouraged employees to speak to their employers in advance about voting arrangements where necessary, saying open and transparent engagement can help both parties find practical solutions that balance workplace requirements with the exercise of constitutional rights.
The department said it will continue to work with all NEDLAC social partners, including organised business, organised labour, civil society and relevant institutions, to promote awareness of workers’ rights and responsibilities and to encourage active citizenship among all South Africans.
The minister’s statement does not say what an employer must do if a shift cannot be covered, and it sets out no enforcement mechanism. What it does is place the responsibility for the arrangement on employers and employees to settle between them before Wednesday.
This report is based on the account published by SAnews (South African Government News Agency) at https://www.sanews.gov.za/south-africa/employers-urged-release-employees-participate-elections rather than on the minister’s statement in full.
