With Delhi choking under severe air pollution, the Delhi government has announced mandatory work-from-home measures for offices across the national capital as part of tighter restrictions under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP).
Starting December 18, all government offices and private establishments in Delhi will be allowed to function with only 50 per cent physical attendance, while the remaining staff must work from home. Offices have also been directed to introduce flexible working hours to reduce peak-hour congestion and vehicular emissions. Essential services such as health facilities, jails, public transport, electricity and other critical departments have been exempted from the new restrictions.
The decision was announced by the Labour Department amid sustained “severe” air quality levels and the implementation of GRAP Stage 4, the strictest set of anti-pollution curbs. The government has warned that penalties will be imposed on institutions and individuals found violating the work-from-home norms.