KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Electoral Office of Jamaica (EOJ) yesterday reported that several Election Day workers for the November 28 Local Government Election have been withdrawing after being denied time off from their employers to facilitate the civic duty.

In a release late Monday, Director of Elections Orrette Fisher appealed to employers to assist the process by granting their staff the day off without penalty.

“I wish to express appreciation to the private sector employers who have allowed their employees time-off to be Election Day workers. On the other hand, there are some employees who are having great difficulty getting permission to work on Election Day,” he said.

The Director pleaded with employers to reconsider their position and make arrangements to allow their staff to participate.

“We understand that Election Day is a regular business day and for many employers, especially in smaller businesses, this is a great sacrifice. However, the success and integrity of the electoral process depends heavily on the availability of honest, hardworking, capable, civic-minded individuals,” he added.

Meanwhile, EOJ sought to assure the public that the decline in the number of workers, although of concern, is not yet at the stage where polling stations will not be adequately staffed.

The organisation said the office is currently assigning workers selected as reserves in such an eventuality, to take up the vacant positions.

“In the public sector, employees who serve as Election Day Workers are regarded as being on duty while performing these functions. Their absence from their substantive jobs is not treated as leave,” the release added.

EOJ also reminded that that employees are entitled to a three-hour break to vote on Election Day, in addition to the normal lunch hour. This however, does not apply to people who begin work at 10:00 am or later and leave at 2:00 pm or earlier.