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The central government has tweaked the working timings of its employees in Delhi due to severe air pollution. The Delhi government has already changed work timing for its staff.
The Centre suggested government employees to use carpooling and take public transport as much as possible to minimise air pollution, an officer said.
"These measures may be adopted by ministries/departments/organisations as per their functional requirements ensuring that it should not have an adverse impact on efficiency and productivity in any manner," the order read.
Given the severe-plus air pollution levels in Delhi, various ministries, departments and organisations of the central government are advised to use staggered timing for offices in the Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR), it said.
The order said offices can be open from 9 am to 5.30 pm and 10 am to 6.30 pm.
After a week of 'severe' pollution level, Delhi's air quality has improved slightly but is still in the 'very poor' zone. At 9 am on Thursday, the national capital recorded an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 376, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
The Centre's move assumes significance as a body representing the Central Secretariat Service (CSS) officers on November 18 demanded work-from-home, staggered working hours and air purifiers in all office buildings to mitigate the health impact of severe pollution.
In a letter to the secretary of the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), the CSS Forum said poor air quality was having a noticeable effect on workplace productivity with employees experiencing symptoms such as respiratory issues, eye irritation, fatigue and general discomfort.