50% work from home mandatory in Delhi, order to apply to all government and private institutions; fine for violations

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): Air pollution levels in the national capital Delhi remain dangerously high, prompting the Delhi government to announce strict new measures. From tomorrow, it will be mandatory for all government and private institutions in Delhi to ensure 50% work from home for their employees. The government has warned that strict penalties will be imposed on institutions that fail to comply with these directions.

Alongside this, the Delhi government has also announced financial relief for registered construction workers affected by work stoppages during GRAP-3 restrictions. Such workers will receive compensation of ₹10,000 directly into their bank accounts. The move aims to provide relief to labourers who lost income due to the prolonged suspension of construction activities.

Delhi cabinet minister Kapil Mishra stated that the city is currently under GRAP-4 restrictions. He said the Labour Department has taken several decisions in view of the situation. During GRAP-3, construction work remained suspended for 16 days, affecting thousands of workers. To address this, the government has decided to transfer ₹10,000 to registered workers in Delhi.

He further said that based on guidelines issued by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) and the Environment Department, attendance in offices will be restricted to 50% from tomorrow. All establishments across Delhi will be required to follow the 50% work from home rule with immediate effect.