Govt Announces New Work From Home Rules

Working from home (WFH) has turned into a boon and a bane for many people in the country. While some organizations have asked their employees to return to offices, there are still a number of people who are enjoying the perks of WFH.

However, many organisations have complained that in WFH there is a lack of accountability among employees, while employees are complaining of being overworked. To regulate work from home, a brand-new regulation 43A for WFH in the Special Economic Zones Rules, 2006 was made public by the Department of Commerce on Wednesday.

The sector had requested that there be a provision for a national consistent WFH policy throughout all Special Economic Zones (SEZs), which is why the notification was issued.

The new rule provides for work from home for a particular category of employees of a unit in an SEZ. These include employees of IT/ITeS SEZ units; employees who are temporarily incapacitated; employees who are traveling; and employees who are working offsite.

Who can benefit from the new Work from Home Rules:

— Employees of IT/ITeS SEZ units

— Employees who are temporarily incapacitated

— Employees who are travelling

— Employees who are working offsite

The DC further said that WFH might be expanded to up to 50% of the unit’s total workforce, including contractual workers.

“Work from home is now permitted for up to one year. However, upon request from units, the DC may further extend the same for periods of one year,” added the ministry.

The announcement gave a transition time of 90 days for SEZ units whose employees are already working from home to request approval, it continued.

The work-from-home policies are applicable to Special Economic Zones, which are parts of India subject to a unique set of economic laws. To entice foreign direct investment is done. In India, there are now eight operational SEZs, including Santa Cruz (Maharashtra), Cochin (Kerala), Kandla and Surat (Gujarat), Chennai (Tamil Nadu), Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh), Falta (West Bengal), and Noida (Uttar Pradesh).