India adapts rules for WFH arrangement

Workers who are covered include contractual workers, those who are travelling, temporarily incapacitated, and those who are working offsite.
By: | July 20, 2022
Topics: Employee Experience | Hybrid Working | India | News | Restructuring

The Indian government has amended rules in the Special Economic Zones (SEZ) to accommodate work from home arrangements, which is expected to help businesses attract and retain talent with flexible working options. 

The move is also expected to change the demand for the leasing of space at IT parks, writes The Economic Times. 

A business unit operating in the SEZ will be able to allow a maximum of 50% of total workers to work from home, which includes contractual workers. 

Other workers who are covered include workers of IT and IT-enabled services (ITeS), those who are travelling, temporarily incapacitated, and those who are working offsite. 

The unit will be expected to submit its WFH proposal to the development commissioner, and upon successful approval, the unit will be granted permission to WFH for one year from the date of approval. 

READ: More companies in India considering hybrid work model

“It will allow companies to onboard new talent in the office environment while extending the work-from-home policy for existing talent. This is a welcome move for corporations as we are in the midst of a gradual phase of return to work, especially in the IT and ITeS sector,” commented Karan Singh Sodi, regional managing director at real estate consultancy JLL India.