Work from Home: Centre announces new rule in Special Economic Zone; check details

The department of commerce on Tuesday said that work from home will be allowed in special economic zones (SEZs) for a maximum period of one year, and may be extended to a maximum of 50 per cent of total employees including contractual employees. The department of commerce under the commerce ministry of the Indian government has notified a new rule 43A for WFH in Special Economic Zones Rules, 2006.

Also read: Netherlands makes work-from-home a legal right

According to the notification, the decision was taken on demand from the industry for making a provision for a country wide uniform work from home policy.

“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,” said the department of commerce in its notification.

Also read: 4 activities to bring exercise into your workday

The new rule provides work from home for a certain category of employees of a unit in SEZ, the government said.

Here’s a list of employees that can avail the benefits of the new rules:

a. Employees of IT/ ITeS SEZ units

b. Employees, who are temporarily incapacitated

c. Employees, who are travelling

d. Employees, who are working offsite

Also read: Elon Musk forces return to office: Tesla CEO’s toxic work culture in focus

According to the new notification, work from home provision can be extended to maximum 50 per cent of total employees including contractual employees of the unit. However, there is flexibility granted to the Development Commissioner (DC) of SEZs to approve a higher number of employees (more than 50 per cent) for any bona-fide reason to be recorded in writing.

“Work From Home is now allowed for a maximum period of one-year. However, the same may further be extended for a period of one year at a time by the DC on the request of units,” the department of commerce said in its notification.

Also read: Norway’s Oslo has the best work-life balance, Dubai worst: Study

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.

The notification also states that the SEZ unit will be responsible to provide equipment and secured connectivity to those employees working from home under the new rule.

Also read: Easy to cook snacks for you to gorge on during work from home

The work from home rules are applicable to Special Economic Zones, which are areas subject to a set of different economic regulations than other regions within India. This is done to attract foreign direct investments.

There are eight functional SEZs in India at the moment including — Santa Cruz (Maharashtra), Cochin (Kerala), Kandla and Surat (Gujarat), Chennai (Tamil Nadu), Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh), Falta (West Bengal) and Noida (Uttar Pradesh).