In a significant decision, Delhi government has withdrawn the work-from-home (WFH) arrangement and staggered office timings for its employees after the geopolitical situation in West Asia improved following reports of a ceasefire between the United States and Iran.
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta approved the rollback of the measures on Saturday. According to a statement issued by the Chief Minister’s Office, “Now that the geopolitical situation has practically normalised, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has approved withdrawal of Work-From-Home on Wednesdays and Saturdays.”
With the revised order taking effect immediately, Delhi government employees will resume their regular office timings of 10 a.m. to 6.30 p.m. The office schedule for employees of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) will remain unchanged at 8.30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The hybrid work arrangement was introduced in May as part of the Delhi government’s fuel conservation and energy-saving initiative. Employees had been directed to work from home on Wednesdays and Saturdays in response to concerns over global energy supplies arising from the US-Iran conflict.
The move also followed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s appeal for responsible fuel consumption and prudent government expenditure. Along with the WFH policy, the Delhi government had shifted nearly half of its official meetings to virtual mode, introduced staggered office timings across departments and the MCD to reduce peak-hour traffic, and cut the monthly petrol entitlement for officers by 20 per cent. It had also suspended the purchase of new government vehicles for six months as part of its fuel-saving measures.
With the situation in West Asia easing, the government has now decided to restore normal office functioning while retaining the existing office timings for MCD employees.
Pertinently, on May 14, Labour Department, Government of NCT of Delhi, had issued an advisory regarding the implementation of Work-From-Home (WFH) policy in view of the prevailing fuel conservation situation.The advisory requests employers of industrial establishments, factories, shops, and commercial establishments, including IT and ITES units in Delhi, to encourage eligible employees to work from home for a minimum of two days per week, wherever feasible. Establishments may maintain up to 50% workforce strength at the workplace, depending on the nature of work and operational requirements.
The advisory further encouraged employers and employees to support the national campaign “Mera Bharat – Mera Yogdan” by reducing fuel consumption, adopting mindful consumption practices, improving health habits, and supporting locally made Indian products.Essential and emergency services such as hospitals, electricity, water, sanitation, municipal services, and other notified emergency services were, however, exempted from this advisory.
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