New Delhi: In a bid to provide flexibility and attract top talent, the commerce and industry ministry has inserted a new rule 43 A (Work from home or WFH), allowing 50 per cent of employees in the special economic zone (SEZ) to work in hybrid mode. For the unversed, several large- to medium-sizes companies, including tech giants Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Infosys have their companies in SEZ.
As per the new rule book, employees of IT and ITeS SEZ units, those who are temporarily incapacitated, those who are travelling and those who are working offsite will be allowed to work from home.
A notification issued by the commerce and industry ministry stated,”A unit operating in the SEZ may permit its employees, including contractual staff, to work from home or from any place outside the SEZ. This proposal for working from home will cover a maximum of 50 per cent of the total employees, including contractual employees, of the unit.”
WFH may be extended to a maximum of 50 per cent of total employees, including contractual employees of the unit, it added. It also said that 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 bonafide 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,” the ministry said.
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 added. “SEZ Units will provide equipment and secured connectivity for the purpose of WFH to perform authorised operations of the units and the permission to take out the equipment is co-terminus with the permission granted to an employee,” the ministry said.
