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COSATU is reiterating its call to all employers to release workers and allow them to exercise their democratic right of voting for the candidates of their own choice ,in the upcoming local government elections. The federation is concerned that many workers especially in the security, services, retail and farming sectors will not be allowed to vote because they will be working. The federation is disappointed that government has failed to declare the 03rd of August 2016 a non-trading day. 

We have received a troubling number of reports from workers , who are being forced to make an unfair choice between their jobs and or their right to vote. This is deeply unfair because no employee should be put under such unreasonable pressure in the workplace. We support the ANC’s call for employers to consider the needs of workers , especially those who are registered from voting districts that are far from their workplaces.  We expect all workers including domestic workers to be given time off so that they can vote. 

We are calling on all our affiliates to ensure that they fight for the workers’ rights to vote in all the sectors ,where they organize. COSATU urges workers should not succumb to bullying tactics from those employers, who want to influence or bully them to vote for their preferred candidates or political parties. Workers should remember that their vote is their secret and they do not have to divulge it to anyone , including employers.

We have discovered troubling cases of  employers who are forcing workers to either vote for their favoured political parties or not vote at all. We repeat  our call to all workers to report the cases of exploitation, the physical and psychological abuse in the workplace to government authorities, and also to nearby COSATU offices for intervention.

Issued by COSATU