Citizens demand flexible working hours on election day

By Kim Rahn

Citizens are calling for flexible working hours on Oct. 26 so that they can vote in the by-elections without being stressed about missing work.

They are demanding companies and the government permit employees to start work late or leave early that day.

The calls come as it is forecast that voter turnout will be a decisive factor in determining the winners. This could be especially true in the Seoul mayoral race in which the Grand National Party’s Na Kyung-won and unified opposition candidate Park Won-soon have been running neck-and-neck in polls.

Seoul National University law professor Cho Kuk said on Twitter Thursday, “I appeal to heads of companies! I believe you well know the importance of voting in a democratic society. Oct. 26 is not a holiday. Please permit your workers to come to work an hour later than usual or go home an hour earlier.”

His tweet has been supported by numerous others.

Film director Kim Jho Gwang-soo said via Twitter, “Staff members of my production firm will cast their ballots in the morning and come to the office in the afternoon. The number of employees is not large, but voting is an act that can change the country, so we’re in!”

A blogger named insaenghaengno said on a portal site, “My boss will allow us to come late on condition that we take pictures of us voting and show them to him.”

Officials say voter turnout can determine the results like the residents’ referendum in August on whether to provide free school lunches to all students or only to those from lower classes.

As a quorum was required to make the vote valid, those supporting free school meals for all campaigned to boycott the poll, while those supporting the second option encouraged people to participate, thereby insisting on flexible working hours on that day. Some public organizations and private companies allowed late arrivals at offices so their employees could vote.

Civic groups have called for the people’s right to participate in the vote.

A civic network for electors’ liberty has asked the Korea Federation of Small and Medium Business, the Federation of Korean Industries and the Korea Employers Federation to cooperate in guaranteeing time set aside to vote.

“It is feared that the upcoming by-elections will see a low turnout as usual. The Labor Law and Election Law guarantee employees’ rights to vote, but in reality many workers are not provided with enough flexibility to do so, especially non-regular workers and those in small businesses,” the group said in a press conference in Seoul, Friday, which was co-organized by the nation’s two umbrella unions.