Chennai Polling Day: Strict Action Against Employers Denying Paid Leave
The Labour Commissioner of Tamil Nadu has issued a stern warning to all establishments across the state, declaring that strict legal action will be taken against those who fail to grant paid leave to their employees on Tuesday, April 23, the designated polling day for the state elections. This directive was officially announced in a public release issued on Saturday, emphasizing the mandatory nature of this provision.
Comprehensive Coverage: All Sectors Must Comply
Acting on explicit instructions from the Election Commission of India, the mandate applies universally to all employers within Tamil Nadu. This includes a wide array of sectors such as industrial establishments, Information Technology companies, retail shops, commercial enterprises, food service chains, agricultural plantations, motor transport undertakings, and entities within the unorganised sector. The order is unequivocal: every employee and worker must be granted a paid holiday.
Critically, this entitlement extends to all categories of labour, including daily-wage earners, temporary staff, and contract workers. The directive aims to ensure that no individual faces an obstacle to exercising their fundamental right to vote due to employment obligations.
Grievance Redressal: State and District Control Rooms Activated
To effectively address and resolve any complaints regarding non-compliance, the state labour department has proactively established dedicated control rooms. These facilities are operational at both the state headquarters and across all district levels.
Workers and members of the public who encounter violations can lodge their complaints through multiple channels:
- By contacting the state-level control room officials at the following telephone numbers: 79046 46090, 72990 07334, 79048 02429, and 90435 55123.
- By directly approaching the respective Assistant Commissioners of Labour (Enforcement) stationed at the district level in their area.
The establishment of these control rooms underscores the administration's commitment to enforcing the electoral directive and safeguarding workers' rights on this crucial democratic occasion.
