As per a recent release, as an Additional Advisory for Novel Coronavirus Disease (Covid-19), the Government of India has requested the states to enforce work for home for private sector employees except those working in emergency and essential services.
As per the advisory, towards addressing the need of ensuring social distancing at central government offices, the statement said – “To reduce crowding all Group B and C Central govt. employees will be asked to attend offices on alternate week and staggered timings for all employees.”
Related updates from key business districts:
District administration of key cities and business districts ( Pune, Gurugram, Bangalore, Mumbai etc.) have already issued related advisory to private sector employers to allow their staff to work from home, as a key step to ensure social distancing towards controlling and limiting spread of Covid-19.
As per media reports – earlier this week (18th March 2020), Pune district administration had ordered private employers to allow “work from home” for their employees and advised them of harsh action if the directive was ignored. An order to the effect was issued by the district administration under the Disaster Management Act and firms not complying could face action under section 188 of the IPC. District Collector Naval Kishore Ram had said – “From tomorrow (March 19), we will have police teams in Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad who will physically check private companies in major IT parks and ensure the order is implemented.” The order excluded media, essential services, as stated by district administration – “This order is applicable for firms which have office set up and do not come under essential services”.
Similary advisory was issued earlier this week (17th March 2020), by the District Magistrate, Gurugram to all offices located in Gurugram district to allow their employees to work from home till 31st March 2020.
On 17th March, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) Commissioner Praveen Pardeshi had issued orders, under Rule 10 of the Epidemic Disease Act 1897, for private firms to allow work from home to their employees. As per the order the establishments were to operate at 50 percent of their staff capacity with rest of employees being allowed to work from home. Any violation would attract penal action under under section 188 of the Indian Penal Court (IPC). Maharashtra government has also issued advisory under Epidemic Disease Act, to private companies to operate at less than 50 percent of their workforce.
As per the Additional Advisory for Novel Coronavirus Disease (Covid-19), other key announcements are:
- No scheduled international commercial passenger aircraft shall be allowed to land in India from March 22, 2020 for one week.
- State Governments shall issue appropriate directions so that all citizens above 65 (other than for medical assistance) except for public representatives/govt. servants/medical professionals are advised to remain at home.
- Similarly, all children below 10 should be advised to stay at home and not to venture out.
- Railways and civil aviation shall suspend all concessional travel except for students, patients and divyang category.
- To reduce crowding all Group B and C Central govt. employees will be asked to attend offices on alternate week and staggered timings for all employees.
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