IT employees' union urges govt to back work-from-home following PM's appeal

In a letter dated May 11, 2026, NITES urged the Ministry of Labour and Employment to direct IT and digitally deliverable service sectors to implement work-from-home arrangements for a suitable period in the national interest.

In Short

• NITES wrote to Mansukh Mandaviya seeking a temporary work-from-home advisory
• The union linked the appeal to fuel savings after Modi's travel call
• It said pandemic-era remote work preserved productivity and business continuity

India’s IT employee union, the Nascent Information Technology Employees Senate (NITES), has written to Union Labour and Employment Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, asking the government to issue an advisory for mandatory work-from-home (WFH) in the IT and IT-enabled services (IT/ITES) sector wherever possible, reported The Economic Times.

The request comes after Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently appealed to citizens and organisations to reduce unnecessary travel, save fuel and adopt remote working practices due to global geopolitical tensions and growing pressure on fuel supplies.

NITES WRITES TO LABOUR MINISTER

In a letter dated May 11, 2026, NITES urged the Ministry of Labour and Employment to direct IT and digitally deliverable service sectors to implement work-from-home arrangements for a suitable period in the national interest.

The letter was addressed to Mansukh Mandaviya, Minister of Labour and Employment, Government of India, and was written by Harpreet Singh Saluja, president of NITES and an advocate at the Bombay High Court.

According to the employee body, lakhs of workers in India’s IT and IT-enabled services sector still spend long hours travelling to offices despite having access to systems that allow them to work remotely.

PANDEMIC EXPERIENCE SHOWED WFH CAN WORK

In its letter, NITES said India’s IT/ITES sector had already proved during the Covid-19 pandemic that large-scale remote working was possible without hurting productivity or business continuity.

The organisation pointed out that during the pandemic, most IT companies successfully shifted employees to remote work. Businesses continued operations using cloud systems, cybersecurity tools, digital collaboration platforms and virtual management systems.

NITES argued that the experience showed mandatory work-from-home in suitable technology roles is practical, technically possible and sustainable.

LONG COMMUTES ADD PRESSURE ON FUEL AND EMPLOYEES

The employee body also raised concerns about daily travel by workers in big cities. It said many employees spend several hours commuting even when their jobs can be done remotely.

According to NITES, unnecessary office travel increases fuel consumption, traffic congestion, pressure on public transport and environmental strain. It also affects employees’ physical and mental well-being.

The union said adopting remote work, wherever operationally feasible, could help support the country’s fuel conservation efforts without affecting productivity.

CALL FOR COOPERATION, NOT CONFRONTATION

In the letter, NITES stressed that the request should not be seen as a confrontation with employers. Instead, it described work-from-home as a collective effort involving companies, employees and the government to support national priorities.

The organisation said the IT sector had already shown during the pandemic that employers and workers could work together successfully under remote arrangements.

NITES said it remains open to working with the government and stakeholders to create policies that balance employee welfare, economic growth, environmental responsibility and national interest.

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