Delhi government issues work-from-home orders for 50% of its non-essential services staff

The Delhi government has issued work-from-home (WFH) orders for 50% of its employees associated with non-essential services and advised private establishments to stagger timings and presence of staff amid a surge in COVID-19 cases in the national capital.

In an order issued on Saturday, Delhi chief secretary and District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) executive committee chairman Vijay Dev said, "All government offices shall function with officers of the level of grade 1/equivalent and above to extent of 100% strength. The remaining staff will attend up to 50% as per requirement till December 31 or till further order. Private offices are advised to stagger timings and the presence of staff."

As per the order, Delhi government offices, autonomous bodies, public sector undertakings, corporations, local bodies will function with officers of grade-one level or equivalent and above to the extent of 100%.

Private offices are further advised to follow the practice of work from home as far as possible, it said.

The proposal does not cover departments concerned with essential services, including health, police, home guards and civil defence, district administrations, fire, electricity and water, municipal services among others.

In a tweet, Delhi Revenue Minister Kailash Gahlot said, "DDMA has decided to reduce the number of government employees attending office at the same time, it has been decided that in respect of officials lower than Grade 1, only 50% of the strength shall attend office. Private offices are also advised to stagger timings and the presence of staff."

DDMA has decided to reduce number of Govt employees attending office at the same time,it has been decided that in respect of officials lower than Grade 1, only 50% of the strength shall attend office. Private offices are also advised to stagger timings & presence of staff. pic.twitter.com/s03biEyvJs

— Kailash Gahlot (@kgahlot) November 28, 2020

According to the Union Health Ministry and Family Welfare, Delhi has 38,181 active cases of COVID-19.

(With agency inputs)