Big Relief! New Work From Home guidelines issued by Centre

New Delhi, July 20: The Commerce Ministry said that Work from home (WFH) is permitted for a maximum of one year in a special economic zone unit and can be expanded to 50% of all employees. The Department of Commerce has notified a new rule 43A for WFH in Special Economic Zones Rules, 2006.

 

 

According to the government, the notification was issued on demand from the industry for making a provision for a country-wide uniform Work From Home (WFH) policy across all Special Economic Zones. The Department of Commerce thereafter held several rounds of discussions with various stakeholders before firming up the notification.

 

A certain category of employees of a unit in a SEZ are eligible to work from home under the new rule. Employees of IT/ITeS SEZ units, those who are temporarily disabled, those who are travelling, and those who are working offsite.

 

 

As per the new notification, WFH may be extended to maximum 50% of total employees including contractual employees of the unit. There is flexibility granted to Development Commissioner (DC) of SEZs to approve a higher number of employees (more than 50%) for any bona-fide reason to be recorded in writing.

 

Work From Home is now allowed for a maximum period of one-year. However, same may further be extended for a period of one year at a time by the DC on the request of units. In respect of SEZ units whose employees are already working from home, the notification has provided a transition period of 90 days to seek approval.

 

SEZ Units will provide equipment and secured connectivity for the purpose of WFH to perform authorized operations of the units and the permission to take out the equipment is co-terminus with the permission granted to an employee.