Elections 2026: Employers urged to allow employees time to vote

The Minister of Employment and Labour, Nomakhosazana Meth, has called on employers and employees across the country to work together to ensure that eligible workers have the opportunity to exercise their constitutional right to vote.

South Africans will head to the polls on Wednesday, 4 November, which President Cyril Ramaphosa has declared a national public holiday.

EMPLOYERS URGED TO RELEASE EMPLOYEES TO VOTE

The Department of Employment and Labour has encouraged employers and employees to engage proactively and make reasonable workplace arrangements to support voter participation while ensuring that operational requirements and service delivery commitments are maintained.

Meth said the right to vote remains one of the most important freedoms secured by South Africa’s constitutional democracy, adding that workplaces have an important role to play in promoting active citizenship and supporting democratic participation.

“The right to vote is a cornerstone of our democracy and one of the most significant gains of our constitutional dispensation. As a country, we must continue to safeguard this right and create an environment in which all eligible citizens are able to participate meaningfully in the democratic process.

“We encourage employers and employees to work together in a spirit of cooperation and mutual respect. Through proper planning and constructive engagement, workplaces can support employees who wish to cast their votes while ensuring that business operations continue effectively,” Meth said.