IT Employee Body NITES Urges Labour Ministry to Mandate Work from Home to Save Fuel

The Nascent Information Technology Employees Senate (NITES) has urged India's Ministry of Labour and Employment to issue an advisory mandating work-from-home for IT workers where feasible, citing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's appeal to reduce fuel consumption amid rising oil prices and geopolitical tensions in West Asia. In a letter dated May 11, 2026, addressed to Labour Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, NITES said the measure should be treated as a national responsibility, not a workplace flexibility option.

NITES referenced the successful large-scale remote work during the COVID-19 pandemic, stating that productivity in the IT and IT-enabled services sector was maintained despite reduced physical presence. The body highlighted that daily urban commutes by IT employees result in significant fuel use and environmental strain, which can be mitigated through remote work.

Prime Minister Modi, in a public address on May 10, called on citizens to cut fuel consumption, use public transport, avoid non-essential foreign travel, and reduce gold purchases. He specifically recommended reviving work-from-home and virtual meetings as part of national conservation efforts.

The request was made by Harpreet Singh Saluja, president of NITES, which represents employees across India's IT and IT-enabled services sector. The Labour Ministry has not yet responded to the letter. The government's stance on the proposal is expected to be clarified in the coming days.