<p>The commerce ministry on Tuesday said work from home (WFH) is allowed for a maximum period of one year in a special economic zone units and can be extended to 50 per cent of total employees.</p>.<p>The Department of Commerce has notified a new rule 43A for WFH in Special Economic Zones Rules, 2006.</p>.<p>The ministry said the notification was issued on demand from the industry to make a provision for a countrywide uniform WFH policy across all Special Economic Zones (SEZs).</p>.<p>The new rule provides work from home for a certain category of employees of a unit in SEZ.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/opinion/both-wfh-and-wfo-can-be-unsettling-1110289.html" target="_blank">Both WFH and WFO can be unsettling</a></strong></p>.<p>These include employees of IT/ITeS SEZ units; employees, who are temporarily incapacitated; employees, who are travelling and who are working offsite, it added.</p>.<p>WFH may be extended to a maximum of 50 per cent of total employees, including contractual employees of the unit, it added.</p>.<p>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.</p>.<p>"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.</p>.<p>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.</p>.<p>"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.</p>
<p>The commerce ministry on Tuesday said work from home (WFH) is allowed for a maximum period of one year in a special economic zone units and can be extended to 50 per cent of total employees.</p>.<p>The Department of Commerce has notified a new rule 43A for WFH in Special Economic Zones Rules, 2006.</p>.<p>The ministry said the notification was issued on demand from the industry to make a provision for a countrywide uniform WFH policy across all Special Economic Zones (SEZs).</p>.<p>The new rule provides work from home for a certain category of employees of a unit in SEZ.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/opinion/both-wfh-and-wfo-can-be-unsettling-1110289.html" target="_blank">Both WFH and WFO can be unsettling</a></strong></p>.<p>These include employees of IT/ITeS SEZ units; employees, who are temporarily incapacitated; employees, who are travelling and who are working offsite, it added.</p>.<p>WFH may be extended to a maximum of 50 per cent of total employees, including contractual employees of the unit, it added.</p>.<p>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.</p>.<p>"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.</p>.<p>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.</p>.<p>"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.</p>