The Commerce ministry said that Work from home has been granted for a maximum period of one year in a special economic zone unit and can be extended further 50 per cent of total employees. The Department of Commerce has notified a new rule 43A for WFH in Special Economic Zones Rules, 2006.
The ministry said the rule was passed 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 only a certain category of employees of a unit in SEZ. It will include employees of IT/ITeS SEZ units; temporarily incapacitated employees; and travelling employees and those working offsite.
The ministry also said, “Work From Home is now allowed for a maximum period of one year. However, the same may further be extended for one year at a time by the DC on the request of units. SEZ Units will provide equipment and secured connectivity for 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.”
In regard to SEZ units, those employees already working from home, the notification has provided a transition period of 90 days to seek approval.
They would also provide flexibility to the Development Commissioner (DC) of SEZs to approve a higher number of employees for any genuine reason to be recorded in writing.
