The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) has sent out notices to its employees who have been working from home, reprimanding them for doing so without prior approval from the Ministry.
A notice dated June 26 was sent out to around 20-30 workers, demanding an explanation for their absence from work between April 20 and June 7.
Employees will be liable for action under FR 17-A, which is a provision under the Department of Personnel Training guidelines, that permits action to be taken against government employees who take leave without authorisation.
Notices have been issued to employees who live in containment zones as well as those who have returned to their native places.
The Ministry has reproached these workers reminding them that they are not allowed to take such liberties; and that they are required to report to office as long as they are not under quarantine.
Workers have, however, pointed out that many of them are living in containment zones, which makes it impossible for them to access any transport facility. In addition, the fact that the number of cases have been rising in the Ministry building itself, discouraged the employees from leaving the safety of their homes and reporting to work.
The Shram Shakti Bhawan, which houses the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Ministry of Labour and Employment, Department of Science and Technology, Ministry of Power and a PTI office has reported several cases of COVID and has been shut on multiple occasions. According to a June 5 order by the DoPT, only 20 employees are allowed to be present in an office at a time.
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