Labour Commr urges employers of business units, establishments, factories to ensure ‘Paid Holiday’ for staff on Polling days

Srinagar : Labour Commissioner, Charandeep Singh on Saturday chaired a meeting with Labour Department officials regarding implementation of Section- 135(B) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 which provides for grant of Paid Holiday to the employees employed in any business, trade, industrial undertaking or any other establishment, shop or factory on the day of poll.
During the meeting, the Labour Commissioner highlighted on the instructions of the Election Commission of India and Chief Electoral Officer, J&K regarding declaration of Paid Holiday.
The Labour Commissioner urged the officers department to bring the guidelines/instructions regarding declaration of paid holiday in notice of all the establishment owners falling under their jurisdiction for compliance. Moreover, it was also instructed that the declaration of the paid holiday on the poll day(s) may also be displayed prominently on notice boards by the establishment owners for the information of their employees.
It was instructed that Paid Holiday(s) shall be observed in the Srinagar, Baramulla and Anantnag-Rajouri Parliamentary Constituencies on 13th May (Monday), 20th May (Monday) and 25th May ( Saturday) respectively.
It was directed that the poll days indicated above shall be observed as Paid Holiday to every person like employee/ worker/labourer employed in any business, trade, industrial undertaking or any other establishment, shop or factory who is entitled to vote in respect of the area falling within the limits of the Parliamentary Constituency enabling them to exercise their democratic right to vote on the day of poll in the constituency.
Further, it was highlighted that a person like employee/ worker/ labourer who is ordinarily resident of a constituency and registered as an elector, serving / employed in an industrial undertaking or an establishment, shop or factory located outside the constituency shall also be entitled to the benefit of a Paid Holiday on the day of poll. No deduction or abatement of the wages of any such person shall be made on account of a holiday having been granted to the employee/ worker/labourer for exercising his/ her right to vote.
The meeting, among others, was attended by Deputy Labour Commissioner Jammu, Deputy Labour Commissioner Kashmir, Deputy Labour Commissioner Central, Inspector of Factories Jammu, Inspector of Factories Kashmir, Assistant Labour Commissioners and other officials.