New work from home rules announced: All you need to know

New Work From Home Rules: Remote working is a new normal, thanks to the faster adoption of internet-based tools during the pandemic era. To make the remote working culture more convenient and allow more flexibility, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry has released new guidelines under Rule 43A for work from home (WFH) for employees. 

As per the new guidelines, work from home is now allowed for a maximum period of one year and can be extended to more than 50% of total employees.

The guidelines further state that it is a good piece of news for industries as this rule addresses a long-pending demand in the market for more employees. Moreover, it is a boon to a large number of IT/ITES employees working in Special Economic Zones (SEZs).

Work From Home: Fresh guidelines

According to the notice issued by the Commerce Ministry, there is flexibility granted to the 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.

Furthermore, this fresh rule provides a transition period of 90 days to SEZ units to seek approval, whose employees are already working from home.
Who all are coverd under new rule? 

The new rule 43A provides work from home for the 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 traveling

iv. Employees, who are working offsite