- WFH allowed for a maximum period of one-year; may be extended to maximum 50% of total employees
- Dept of Commerce Notification, a boon to large number of IT/ITES employees working in SEZs
IndiGlobal Bureau
The Department of Commerce has notified a new Rule, namely Rule 43A – Work from Home applicable to all Special Economic Zones (SEZs).
As per the new notification, WFH may be extended to maximum 50% of total employees including contractual employees of the unit. However, the Development Commissioner (DC) of SEZs is authorized 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.
It may be mentioned here that 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 SEZs. Accordingly the Department held several rounds of discussions with various stakeholders before firming up the notification.
The notification under Rule 43A provides work from home for following category of employees of a unit in SEZ:
i. Employees of IT/ITeS SEZ units
ii. Employees, who are temporarily incapacitated
iii. Employees, who are travelling
iv. Employees, who are working offsite
