275 complaints against business establishments on polling day

Around 275 complaints against various business establishments -- IT companies, shops, hotels and others -- were received by the labour department for forcing employees to work on Monday, the polling day in Tamil Nadu, said an official.

"Most of the complaints were against IT (information technology) companies, shops and hotels," a labour department control room official told IANS.

He said once the complaint against a company is received, the information is passed on to the concerned official in that particular locality for immediate action.

The official said some software companies were forcing their employees to attend night shift.

"Many have left for their native place to vote. It is not possible for them to come back in the evening and attend the night shift. There was a complaint against a medical business process outsourcing company here," the official said.

According to the official, the IT companies have responded positively unlike the earlier elections.

"We had met the IT companies and industry associations several times and sensitised them about the importance of voting and sought their cooperation," he said.

Last time the companies disregarded the government directive by keeping the front gate locked while forcing employees to enter office through the back gate.

The government had ordered paid holiday for all the business establishments in Tamil Nadu so that the employees could vote.

--IANS

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