Employers urged to let workers register during office hours

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu provincial election supervisor Lionel Marco Castillano has encouraged the private employers to allow their workers to go out of their offices on weekdays for them to be able to register with the Commission on Elections as voters and consider their temporary absence from work as official time.

The last day of the voter’s registration will be on October 31, but many qualified voters have failed to register because they are at work during weekdays and they do not want to be absent from their jobs for economic reasons.

According to Castillano, the Comelec has encouraged all qualified voters to participate in the next year’s elections. 

Election officials have even asked the Department of Labor and Employment, and the Civil Service Commission to issue guidelines allowing private and public employees to register as voters even on weekdays and that their temporary absence from their work be considered as official time.

The Comelec said DOLE is bestowed with powers and functions for the full protection to labor, promotion of their welfare, and supervision over the relationship between employers and employees.

But Castillano, quoting newspaper reports, said acting Labor Secretary Romeo Lagman has rejected the request of the Comelec to allow their workers, who are still not registered voters, to have a free day to register for the 2010 elections.

Lagman said the DOLE cannot compel the private companies to give their workers a free day since the time and days of registration have been extended already.

“Mas labing maayo unta og ang mga employers na lang maoy mohimo’g paagi aron kadtong ilang kawani nga wala pa marehestro sa Comelec makabotar sa election karong sunod tuig,” Castillano said in yesterday’s election-related seminar of radio and TV broadcasters.

He said they are still waiting for the reply of the Civil Service Commission on their request. — Rene U. Borromeo/WAB   (THE FREEMAN NEWS)