The Labour Department is reminding employers across Antigua and Barbuda of their legal obligation to provide registered voters with paid time off to cast their ballots on polling day, according to Antigua News Room.
Under section 34 of the Representation of the People (Amendment) Act 2001, every employer is required to grant each voter a minimum of four consecutive hours to vote, without any deduction from wages or other remuneration.
The legislation states: "Every employer shall, on polling day, allow every voter a period of four consecutive hours for voting and no employer shall make any deduction from the pay or other remuneration of any such voter or impose upon or exact from him any penalty by reason of his absence during such period."
Employers who fail to comply face serious legal consequences. The Act further stipulates that any employer who "directly or indirectly refuses or by intimidation, undue influence or in any way, interferes with the granting to any voter in his employ of such period of voting" is guilty of an offence.
Upon summary conviction, offending employers are liable to a fine not exceeding three thousand dollars or imprisonment of up to twelve months.
The reminder was issued by the Labour Commissioner as election day approaches.
