Department of Commerce notifies rules for Work from Home for Special Economic Zones - (19 Jul 2022)

Commercial

The Department of Commerce has notified a new Rule, namely Rule 43A - Work from Home in Special Economic Zones Rules, 2006 across all Special Economic Zones. The notification was issued on a long pending demand from the industry for making a provision for a country wide uniform Work From Home (WFH) policy across all Special Economic Zones.

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

As per the new notification, WFH may be extended to maximum 50% of total employees including contractual employees of the unit. There is flexibility granted to Development Commissioner (DC) of SEZs 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, Development Commissioners of SEZs empowered to extend it beyond one-year and for more than 50% of total employees. 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. SEZ Units will provide equipment and secured connectivity for the purpose of WFH to perform authorized operations of the units and the permission to take out the equipment is co-terminus with the permission granted to an employee.

Tags : WFH NOTIFICATION SEZ