26.—(1) Where an employee is any of the following—
(a)a member of a special negotiating body,
(b)a member of a representative body,
(c)an information and consultation representative,
(d)an employee member on a supervisory or administrative organ,
(e)a candidate in an election in which any person elected will, on being elected, be such a member or a representative,
the employee is entitled to be permitted by the employer to take reasonable time off during working hours in order to perform functions as such a member, representative or candidate.
(2) In this regulation “working hours” means any time when, in accordance with the employee’s contract of employment, the employee is required to be at work.