Election days should be non-trading public holidays: Cosatu

The Congress of SA Trade Unions on Thursday called for election days to be declared non-trading public holidays to allow all workers to vote.

"Cosatu has for many years demanded that commemorative public holidays and election days should be declared as non-trading public holidays," acting general secretary Bheki Ntshalintshali told reporters in Johannesburg.

"In order to ensure that all workers, especially those in such sectors as farming and retail, should be free to join commemorative events and to vote, without fear of disciplinary charges from their employers."

He said the trade union movement had submitted notices under Section 77 of the Labour Relations Act to protect workers who refused to work on May 1, Workers' Day.

The CEC [central executive committee] made a specific call for workers to vote on May 7, except those who have to work on that day and have been given a special vote," he said.