‘Work from Home’ for IT companies to be extended till 31 July: Centre

April 28: Amidst the outbreak of coronavirus pandemic, ‘Work from Home’ (WFH) for the IT companies and their employees will be extended till July 31. Union Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Ravi Shankar Prasad informed the State governments of the WFH decision during the video conference with State IT Ministers. Earlier, the work from home was scheduled to end on April 30.

Responding to a suggestion made by Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister CN Ashwath Narayan to extend the permission to WFH upto March 31, 2021, the Union Minister said the decision can be reviewed after July. Norms for work from home have been relaxed. “We will aspire that work from home should become a new norm,” said Prasad while asking the participants to encourage young entrepreneurs investing in new startups. The Union Minister had also agreed to a suggestion to hold a separate meet with the heads of IT companies soon. Ravi Shankar Prasad informed that the decision to extend the work from home policy was taken following the request of different States.

Work From Home Extended Till July 31: “On request of States, including that from #Odisha”, Union IT Minister @rsprasad announces “relaxation extension of #WorkFromHome conditions up to 31st July 2020”. Odisha IT minister @btushar02 & IT Secy @manojmishratwit joined this VC pic.twitter.com/9M73jDJXCM

— Soumyajit Pattnaik (@soumyajitt) April 28, 2020

The Minister praised the department for making the Arogya Setu app a success, adding that the app has to be taken forward. A proposal was made in the meeting to tag the e-pass with the app and was agreed upon, stated the Law minister. All Aarogya Setu apps will be linked at district levels.