Voters’ turnout in polls questionable

Thimphu, December 03: Despite this being the first and historic elections, the voters’ turnout in the upcoming elections in the country is doubtful.

The private sector employers who gather in Thimphu to discuss the draft of the Labor Act said they will not provide leave to their official to go villages and cast vote.

The employers asked the government to make arrangement for them to vote in the place they work.

The employers raise objection to government appeals to provide paid or unpaid leave to the private sector employees so they go to their villages to cast votes.

The employers said office works were half almost for two weeks this year when the officials were given leave during mocking elections.

The election commission said only less than 80 percent of the total eligible voters registered with it till end November.

Other serious questions that employees raise during the consultation hosted by the Ministry of Labor and Human Resources was the annual leave they get. The draft Act mentions 12 day of annual leave while the government officials get 30 days. The employees demand similar facilities in the private sector.

The discussion was dominated by the issue of sexual harassment that can occur in private offices and penalties. Bhutan News Service