WFH mandate not under consideration: Govt sources
New Delhi, May 13
No proposal is currently being considered to mandate work-from-home arrangements for the IT sector, after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's appeal for reduced fuel usage to tackle the fuel price surge, government sources clarified, as per reports.
The IT industry has largely adopted hybrid work models since the pandemic, and hence, no formal directive is being considered, an NDTV Profit report cited the sources as saying.
Further, policy decisions related to mandatory remote working fall under the purview of the Labour Ministry, they said, adding that "nothing is in the works currently".
PM Modi had urged citizens to conserve fuel, revive work-from-home practices, limit non-essential purchases and avoid overseas vacations in order to help India navigate economic challenges arising from the ongoing geopolitical tensions.
Highlighting India's dependence on imported fuel, PM Modi stressed that reducing fuel consumption would help save valuable foreign exchange reserves at a time when global energy prices were rising sharply.
PM Modi appealed to citizens to avoid destination weddings and overseas holidays, while encouraging domestic tourism and celebrations within the country.
RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra said that if the Middle East conflict continues, India may be forced to raise petrol and diesel prices due to the soaring cost of crude oil in the global market.
The RBI Governor highlighted that rising energy prices due to the Iran war are testing India's flexible inflation targeting, necessitating potential policy intervention by the Reserve Bank. The central bank's next monetary policy meeting is slated for June 5, when it will take a call on key interest rates, which it has left untouched to promote economic growth.
The Governor indicated that raising retail fuel prices is "a matter of time" if the West Asia crisis persists, which in turn would lead to an increase in transportation costs and inflation.
A report from Crisil Ratings said that Brent crude is expected to average $90‑95 per barrel in FY27, roughly 32 per cent higher year‑on‑year.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Interesting how the government is walking the tightrope between public sentiment and economic reality. On one hand, PM Modi's appeal makes sense given the forex situation. On the other, forcing WFH could hurt productivity in many sectors. The RBI Governor's warning about fuel prices is sobering—$90-95 per barrel for FY27 would hit everyone's pockets. 😬
I appreciate PM Modi's call for conserving fuel, but the 'no WFH mandate' clarification shows the government understands ground realities. Many IT employees, especially women, have found hybrid models to be a blessing for work-life balance. However, the fuel price hike threat is real—reduce unnecessary travel, but don't make life harder for those who need to commute daily. 🙏
The article raises a valid point: why should the IT sector be singled out for WFH when many other industries can't even consider it? Factory workers, delivery personnel, healthcare staff—they don't have this luxury. PM Modi's appeal should be seen as a nudge for everyone to conserve fuel, not just a sector-specific solution. The RBI's warning about inflation is what really keeps me awake at night. 🛢️
As someone working in IT, I can say that WFH has its pros and cons. While it saves fuel, it also leads to burnout and lack of team cohesion. The government's decision to not force a mandate is wise—let the industry decide what works best. Honestly, the bigger issue here is the fuel price hike and its impact on the common man. A ₹10-15 increase per litre will hurt everyone, not just office-goers. 😔
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.