Centre allows 100% WFH for IT units in SEZs till December 31, 2023

Tags: National Economy/Finance

The Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry in a notification issued on 8 December 2022 has allowed information technology (IT) companies operating in special economic zones (SEZs) to permit 100 per cent work from home (WFH) or any place outside such zones till December 31, 2023.

The government has amended the rule 43A under the SEZ law to allow WFH for employees of IT and information technology enabled services,

In July 2022, the Central government had allowed 50 per cent of the employees in SEZs, including contractual workers, to work from home. Till now, WFH was permitted for a maximum per­iod of one year in an SEZ unit. 

Special Economic Zone (SEZ)

Special Economic Zone in India has been set up under the Special Economic Zone act 2005 which was implemented on 10 February 2006. There are 270 operational SEZ in India as on 22 November 2022.The concept of SEZ was taken from China.

The Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry is the nodal body of SEZ in India. 

The objective of the SEZ as per the SEZ act 2005 are as follows:

(a) Generation of additional economic activity; (b) Promotion of exports of goods and services; (c) Promotion of investment from domestic and foreign sources; (d) Creation of employment opportunities; (e) Development of infrastructure facilities