Good News! Centre announced new 'work from home' guidelines

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• Jul 20, 2022 | Dhupali Das

The new rule allows specific categories of SEZ employees to work from home...

Digital Desk: Work from home (WFH) is now permitted for up to one year in special economic zone units and may be increased to 50 percent of total employees, as per the new rules released by the Union Commerce Ministry on Tuesday. 

The Department of Commerce has published a new rule 43A for WFH in the Special Economic Zones Rules, 2006. As per the official notification released by the Centre, the new guidelines for SEZs were provided in response to several requests from employees.

The Commerce Ministry's notice states that the rules were created in response to industry requests for a national standard WFH policy throughout all Special Economic Zones (SEZs). The new rule allows specific categories of SEZ employees to work from home.

As per the notification, the group of employees for whom work-from-home policies have been issued includes those who work for IT/ITeS SEZ units, are temporarily incapacitated, are travelling, and are working off-site.

The Center added that  WFH might be extended to up to 50 percent of total employees, including contractual employees. Further, it stated that work from home is permitted for a maximum of one year.

Reportedly, SEZ Units would supply equipment and protected connectivity for WFH to undertake authorized activities of the units, and the permission to remove the equipment is co-terminus with the permission granted to an employee.

In its notification, the Centre wrote, "Work from Home is now permitted for a maximum of one year. However, upon the request of the units, the DC may further extend it for another year."

"SEZ Units will supply equipment and protected connectivity for WFH to undertake authorized activities of the units. The license to take out the equipment is co-terminus with authority provided to an employee," the Commerce ministry wrote.