ETtechBengaluru: A task force set up by the National Association of Software and Service Companies (Nasscom) has started discussions to bring in flexible work conditions for gig workers and part-time IT professionals.
While Nasscom has started talking to its member companies across IT services and BPM sectors to find out best practices allowing part time professionals to work at ease; the industry body is also examining state and central laws to ascertain any legal challenges for such workers in the IT-BPM industry.
This means, according to Nasscom, more focus on managing working hours efficiently and figuring out what kind of hybrid model will be suitable so that teams can collaborate at their best. Ultimately, each company will need to figure out what works for them.
Industry observers and staffing firms said currently the framework depends on the understanding between the part time workers and the companies they work for. But the premise of freelance IT professionals is to work for multiple companies even if the one company expects them to focus on their assignment.
“Whether workers have the flexibility to work extra hours; employers or companies cannot always legally encourage them to do so, even if the employee wants to. The issue lies with the law being caught between the dual objectives of protecting workers against industrial era labour abuse, and enabling 21st century flexible work models. Where and how to balance these objectives is something we will need to collectively work together on, as a society,” said Suraj Moraje, Group chief executive officer, Quess Corp.
Nasscom is also ‘examining’ various state and central laws such as The Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020; Model Shops and Establishment Act, 2016 to understand challenges,if any, and to discuss the same with the government to create a more enabling and flexible work environment for a hybrid work model in the technology services industry, said Aggarwal.
“We are looking at a win-win situation. If the employee and employer agree, why should laws come in the way,” he added.
The industry body also said member companies may look at employing part time workers in a large scale going forward and it needs to ascertain how the population of part time workers can grow keeping in mind aspects such as client confidentiality, non-compete clauses and other issues. But these things would take time, said Aggarwal.
In November, the Indian Government reviewed the Other Service Providers (OSP) guidelines allowing work from home and work from anywhere. Nasscom said the reviewed OSP norms have made it easy for the IT and BPM companies to include a large section of women professionals and others who can work remotely. But, according to Nasscom and industry executives, it has to look at social security aspects for these workers to make it effective.
While Nasscom has started talking to its member companies across IT services and BPM sectors to find out best practices allowing part time professionals to work at ease; the industry body is also examining state and central laws to ascertain any legal challenges for such workers in the IT-BPM industry.
“We are looking at the best practices to enable a flexible framework. Part time workers or gig workers are not new concepts. It’s just that the trend is likely to accelerate and alongside we will have the hybrid work model where everyone including full-time employees will probably have greater flexibility as work from anywhere settles in as a regular feature. The industry is proactively discussing best practices so there is improved productivity and a key factor for that is employee well-being,” Ashish Aggarwal, Head, Public Policy at Nasscom, told ET.
This means, according to Nasscom, more focus on managing working hours efficiently and figuring out what kind of hybrid model will be suitable so that teams can collaborate at their best. Ultimately, each company will need to figure out what works for them.
Industry observers and staffing firms said currently the framework depends on the understanding between the part time workers and the companies they work for. But the premise of freelance IT professionals is to work for multiple companies even if the one company expects them to focus on their assignment.
“Whether workers have the flexibility to work extra hours; employers or companies cannot always legally encourage them to do so, even if the employee wants to. The issue lies with the law being caught between the dual objectives of protecting workers against industrial era labour abuse, and enabling 21st century flexible work models. Where and how to balance these objectives is something we will need to collectively work together on, as a society,” said Suraj Moraje, Group chief executive officer, Quess Corp.
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Nasscom is also ‘examining’ various state and central laws such as The Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020; Model Shops and Establishment Act, 2016 to understand challenges,if any, and to discuss the same with the government to create a more enabling and flexible work environment for a hybrid work model in the technology services industry, said Aggarwal.
“We are looking at a win-win situation. If the employee and employer agree, why should laws come in the way,” he added.
The industry body also said member companies may look at employing part time workers in a large scale going forward and it needs to ascertain how the population of part time workers can grow keeping in mind aspects such as client confidentiality, non-compete clauses and other issues. But these things would take time, said Aggarwal.
In November, the Indian Government reviewed the Other Service Providers (OSP) guidelines allowing work from home and work from anywhere. Nasscom said the reviewed OSP norms have made it easy for the IT and BPM companies to include a large section of women professionals and others who can work remotely. But, according to Nasscom and industry executives, it has to look at social security aspects for these workers to make it effective.
( Originally published on Mar 02, 2021 )
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