Omicron: DPE asks PSUs to suspend biometric attendance, allow only 50% staff in offices

• 'Only 50 percent non-executive staff in PSUs will attend office on staggered timings every day'
• 'The precautionary guidelines laid down by the government will remain in place until the end of this month'

New Delhi: Amidst a fresh surge in COVID-19 cases with the Omicron variant spreading fast, the Department of Public Enterprises (DPE) has asked PSUs to suspend biometric attendance and allow only 50 percent of non-executive staff in offices on staggered timings. The rest of the staff, pregnant women employees and persons with disabilities are to work from home, the DPE has said. The directive from DPE comes just days after the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) released an advisory for Central government offices on January 3. 

"In order to contain the spread of Novel Coronavirus (Covid-19), Department of Personnel & Training has advised immediate implementation of certain preventive and precautionary measures including dispensation of biometric attendance vide their OMs dated 03.01.2022 in respect of Central Government Departments and offices… These measures may be extended to all the CPSEs as per prevailing situation," the DPE said in the order dated January 6.

Only 50% PSU employees to work from office, rest from home: DPE

"… to avoid crowding in their respective offices, plants, units etc., all Heads of CPSEs may draft weekly roster (keeping in view their work/production exigencies) of duty for the non-executive staff in such a manner that not more than 50 percent of their non-executive staff attend the office every day. The remaining 50 percent of the non-executive staff will work from home," said the DPE. 

"In addition, persons with disabilities and pregnant women employees shall be exempted from attending office but are required to work from home," the order added. It also said that the working hours for all employees who attend office on a particular day, should be staggered.

"The officials who are not required to attend office should be asked to work from home and be available on telephone and electronic means of communication at all times and should attend office, if called for any exigency of work," said the DPE.

Advisory not applicable to PSUs engaged in essential services: DPE

The DPE, however, added that the guidelines will not be applicable to PSUs engaged in delivery of essential services or in taking measures to contain the spread of COVID-19. "These advisories shall not apply to the offices/units and employees engaged in essential/emergency services and those directly engaged in taking measures to control spread of COVID-19," said the DPE. 

The precautionary guidelines laid down by the government will remain in place until the end of this month, said the DPE.

(PSU Watch– India's Business News centre that places the spotlight on PSUs, Bureaucracy, Defence and Public Policy is now on Google News. Click here to follow. Also, join PSU Watch Channel in your Telegram. You may also follow us on Twitter here and stay updated.)