The commerce ministry said work from home (WFH) is allow for a maximum period of one year in a special economic zone unit and can be extend to 50% of total employees. Department of Commerce has notified a new rule 43A for WFH in Special Economic Zones Rules, 2006.
The ministry said the notification was issue on demand from the industry to make a provision for a countrywide uniform WFH policy across all Special Economic Zones (SEZs).
The new rule provides work from home for a certain category of employees of a unit in SEZ.
These include employees of IT/ITeS SEZ units; employees, who are temporarily incapacitate, employees, who are travelling and who are working offsite, it added.
WFH may be extend to a maximum of 50% of total employees, including contractual employees of the unit, it added.
It also said that there is flexibility grant to the Development Commissioner (DC) of SEZs to approve a higher number of employees (more than 50%) for any bonafide reason to be record in writing.
Ministry Said :
“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,”.
“SEZ Units will provide equipment and secured connectivity for the purpose of WFH to perform authorise operations of the units and the permission to take out the equipment is co-terminus with the permission grant to an employee,”.
In respect of SEZ units whose employees are already working from home, the notification has provide a transition period of 90 days to seek approval, it added.
