Public Holiday: The Kerala government has declared public holidays on December 9 and 11 in view of the upcoming general elections for local self-government bodies. All government offices and educational institutions will be closed on these days.
Public Holiday: December 9th will be a public holiday in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Idukki, and Ernakulam districts of Kerala. December 11th will be a public holiday in Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur, and Kasaragod districts. These holidays have been declared due to local body elections. According to the government order, government employees who vote in the local body constituency (LSG) where the election is being held, but are on duty in a district where election holidays are not applicable, will be given special leave on election day. Such employees can be granted special leave (but excluding casual leave, commuted leave, and earned leave) as per their convenience, allowing them to cast their vote without any hassle.
All employees will receive full pay despite the holiday.
All employees working in any commercial, business, industrial, or private sector establishment who are eligible to vote in the Panchayat or Municipal elections will be given a holiday on election day. It has also been clarified that no employee’s salary will be deducted due to this holiday. This means that all employees will receive their full salary for that day despite the holiday. This arrangement is designed to ensure everyone can vote without any worries.
Special instructions have been given to all institutions.
The Labor Commissioner will work with all private companies, the IT sector, private industrial centers, and other institutions to make the necessary arrangements. Under the Shopkeepers and Commercial Establishments Act, all these institutions will be instructed to provide paid leave to all their employees on election day.
Such employees include daily wage earners or casual workers. Even if they are working in an industry or institution located in a different area when elections are held in the area where they vote, they must be granted paid leave on the day of the election.
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