SEZ rules amended to include revised home working guidelines

The Special Economic Zone Rules, 2006 (SEZ Rules) offer specific guidelines on working from home (WFH) for employees of Information Technology Services (IT) and Information Technology Enabled Services (ITeS) SEZ units for specific situations such as employees being temporarily incapacitated, or travelling or working offsite. In March 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic struck, similar to the workforce of any other business, the employees of an SEZ unit could not commute and operate physically from their offices. Taking cognizance of the situation and as a facilitation measure for business continuity while ensuring employee safety, the WFH facility was extended by the Ministry of Commerce to all IT/ ITeS SEZ units without exception, and was periodically reviewed and extended based on the prevailing situation.