'Work From Home' Option Included In Centre's Draft Model Standing Orders For Service Sector

Ministry of Labour and Employment has published Draft Model Standing Orders for Service Sector, Manufacturing Sector and Mines.

The draft Model Standing Orders for Service Sector includes Work From Home Option. It states that, subject to conditions of appointment or agreement between employer and workers, employer may allow a worker to work from home for such period or periods as may be determined by employer.

The Ministry has also invited objections and suggestions from the persons affected which has to be sent within thirty days.

Section 29 of the  Industrial Relations Code, 2020 empowers the Central Government to model standing orders relating to conditions of service and other matters incidental thereto or connected therewith. The standing orders to be drafted by the employers has to be based on these model standing orders in respect of the matters specified in the First Schedule.

The Model Standing Orders deals with the following matters specified in First Schedule: 1. Classification of workers, whether permanent, temporary, apprentices, probationers, badlis or fixed term employment. 2. Manner of intimating to workers periods and hours of work, holidays, pay-days and wage rates. 3. Shift working. 4. Attendance and late coming. 5. Conditions of, procedure in applying for, and the authority which may grant leave and holidays. 6. Requirement to enter premises by certain gates, and liability to search. 7. Closing and reporting of sections of the industrial establishment, temporary stoppages of work and the rights and liabilities of the employer and workers arising therefrom. 8. Termination of employment, and the notice thereof to be given by employer and workers. 9. Suspension or dismissal for misconduct, and acts or omissions which constitute misconduct. 10. Means of redress for workers against unfair treatment or wrongful exactions by the employer or his agents or servants. 

These Orders will extend to all States and Union territories within India to the industrial establishments employing three hundred or more number of workers who are working in the industrial establishments and which are covered under the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020 and the rules made thereunder under the control of Central Government or the State Government engaged in respective sectors.

 Click here to Read/Download Notification (Service Sector)

Click here to Read/Download Notification (Manufacturing Sector and Mines)