Covid Curbs: Centre Allows Work From Home For 50% Of Its Employees Below Under Secretary-Level

The order further stated that all government officers/staff residing in Covid containment zones will also be exempted from coming to office till the containment zones are de-notified.

(Representative Image/ Getty)

New Delhi: In the wake of the ongoing surge in daily Covid-19 cases across the country, the Central government on Monday announced that the physical attendance of government servants below the level of under secretary will be restricted to 50 per cent and the remaining to work from home until further notice. 

All government employees with disabilities and pregnant women employees will also be exempted from attending office, news agency PTI quoted a Central government's order.

The order further stated that all government officers/staff residing in Covid containment zones will also be exempted from coming to office till the containment zones are de-notified.

All government departments have also asked officers/staff to follow staggered timing to avoid overcrowding.

Meanwhile, the Government of India has also suspended the biometric attendance for government officials and employees with immediate effect, till further orders.

Minister of State for Personnel Jitendra Singh said the decision has been taken in the interest of safety and health of the government employees.

decision has been taken in the interest of safety and health of the govt employees. 2/2 #DoPT

— Dr Jitendra Singh (@DrJitendraSingh) January 3, 2022

However, the order issued by the Personnel Ministry said that all the employees are required to mark their attendance in attendance registers to be maintained manually.

"As a precautionary measure, it has been decided to suspend the marking of biometric attendance in the Aadhaar-based biometric attendance system in all ministries/departments of the Government of India, including its attached/subordinate offices, with immediate effect till January 31, 2022," the order read.

The Union government had resumed biometric attendance for employees of all levels from November 8 last year. The employees were previously exempted from biometric attendance due to the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic.