The State government in Hyderabad has issued a new directive, changing a previous order to provide paid holidays to workers in all shifts in industries on May 13. This date coincides with the Lok Sabha elections and the by-election for the Secunderabad Cantonment constituency.
Initially, the government had released GO 222 stating that workers in all shifts would have a paid holiday on polling day. This rule had also been in place during the Assembly elections. The Election Commission had declared May 1 as a paid holiday for workers. However, NASSCOM requested that the paid holiday be limited to those working in two shifts. The government agreed to this request and issued a memo on May 2, disregarding the EC’s direction.
In a letter to the State Chief Electoral Officer Vikas Raj, CPM State secretary Tammineni Veerabhadram and executive member DG Narasimha Rao pointed out that many workers in Hyderabad and nearby areas have their voting location in villages, not at their workplace. They argued that if the paid holiday was not provided, those working night shifts would be unable to exercise their right to vote.
As a result of their demands, the government revised its orders and extended the paid holiday to workers in all shifts on May 12.
