With nearly 2.6 crore people in 73 constituencies of western Uttar Pradesh eligible to vote on Saturday in the first of the seven phases of the high-stake Assembly elections, the district magistrates in UP-NCR have asked all offices and factories to give their employees some time off so they can vote.
Activity at real estate sites too will come to a standstill in western UP as the Developers Association (CREDAI) has declared Saturday a holiday.
“To increase voting percentage and public participation, all factories and offices have been asked to give time to their employees so they can vote. We have appealed for leave with salary. At the same time we have also asked the employers to check the finger of the employee post voting to avoid misuse of holiday or timing relief for voting,” Gautam Budh Nagar district magistrate N. P. Singh said.
Flexible timing, holiday
“Our labour department will keep an eye on the factories and offices to ensure that time is given for voting. If any factory or company refuses to give time to their employees, then legal action will be initiated. The employers will be booked under the IPC. To enjoy paid holiday or flexible timing, the employee has to show his inked finger post voting,” Mr. Singh said. Some industrial bodies in UP-NCR are not only offering a holiday, but also incentives, such as bonus pay, to those who cast their vote.
Initiative
“We are going to introduce flexible timing for our employees on voting day. The employee can reach office after casting his vote. But they will have to show the ink mark, else they will have to take a salary cut,” said a top HR executive of a software company, which has offices in Noida and Gurgaon.
“We have directed our HR team to check the fingers of all employees to ensure that they use the day to cast their vote and not treat it as a mere holiday,” said Manoj Gaur, president of CREDAI (NCR).
