Law: Workers allowed 3 hours to vote

Workers desirous of casting their ballots on Election Day (December 29) are allotted time off from work to do so under the Representation of the People (Leave and Symbols) Regulations, 1944. They are allowed three hours, in addition to the normal meal hour, for voting purposes on a national and local election day. Speaking in an interview with JIS News, Public Education Officer, Electoral Commission of Jamaica, Christin Senior,pointed out that the regulations do not apply to employees whose work or election day commences at or after 10 a.m. or concludes before or at 2 p.m.

Ms. Senior is encouraging employers to promote good citizenship, and allow their workers time off to exercise their franchise. Voting hours are between 7 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. The Representation of the People (Leave and Symbols) Regulations, 1944 stipulates: “Subject to the provision of paragraph (2) every employer shall permit each of his employees to be absent from his work on polling day for three hours in addition to the normal meal hour. “The provisions of paragraph (1) shall not apply to any employee whose work on polling day commences at or after 10:00 a.m. or concludes before or at 2:00 p.m.”

Source – JIS