Don’t call more than 1/3rd low level staff : Centre to all depts

New Delhi:24.04.2020

All central government departments were on Thursday asked to ensure that more than onethird of employees, below the level of deputy secretary, were not called to offices to avoid crowding and to ensure safe social distancing norms, according to a personnel ministry communique.

The move comes after it was noticed that more than one-third of officials/staff below deputy secretary level are being called to offices in some ministries/departments.

“This might lead to undesirable crowding in the office jeopardising the preventive measures in place for containing the spread of Covid-19,” it said. It is reiterated that the guidelines for attendance for officers/ staff at levels below deputy secretary, be strictly followed, the ministry said.

There are 48.34 lakh central government employees.

It referred to the revised guidelines related to the ongoing lockdown issued on April 15 by the home ministry, that provide that all officers of the level of deputy secretary and above are to function with 100% attendance while 33% of the remaining officers/staff are to attend offices as per requirement. “The spirit of the guidelines is that crowding in the offices may be avoided and safe social distancing norms may be maintained,”it said.

It said heads of departments may direct their officers/staff to attend office in staggered timings to further avoid crowding in offices/ workspaces. The ministry had last month suggested three slots of staggered timings — 9am to 5.30pm, 9.30am to 6pm and 10am to 6.30pm — for the employees. PTI

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