Next Time You Are Caught Spitting At Your Office Premises, You May Be Slapped With A Hefty Fine
Spitting in public is an unhygienic act and except the ones doing it spit stained walls and roads are a disgusting sight. It is also a public health hazard especially now as it could also spread the coronavirus.?
Last month while announcing the guidelines for the lockdown, the Union Home Ministry had made spitting in public a crime punishable by a fine.Now as offices and factories started opening up during Lockdown 4.0, the government has made spitting at workplaces punishable with a fine.
In an order issued to all central government departments, it has asked their heads to ensure strict compliance of this and other directives in this regard.This order is likely to bring about changes in and around government and private workplaces, where one can easily spot stains of 'pan' and 'gutka' spitted at some of the corners of walls or areas not frequented by many employees/public.?
"Spitting in public and workplaces shall be punishable with fine, as may be prescribed in accordance with its laws, rules, and regulations by the state/union territory local authority," said the national directives issued by the Home Ministry and shared by the Personnel Ministry with all central government departments.?
It said wearing 'face cover' is compulsory in all public and workplaces.In additional directives for the workplaces, the ministry said as far as possible, the practice from work from home should be followed.?
"Staggering of work/business hours shall be followed in offices, workplaces, shops, markets, and industrial and commercial establishments. Provision for thermal scanning, hand wash, and sanitiser will be made at all entry and exit points and common areas," the directives said.?
Frequent sanitization of the entire workplace, common facilities and all points which come into human contact e.g. door handles etc., shall be ensured, including between shifts, it said.?
"All persons in charge of work places shall ensure social distancing through adequate distance between workers, adequate gaps between shifts, staggering the lunch breaks of staff, etc," the directive said.The Centre on Monday asked 50 per cent of its junior employees, below the level of deputy secretary, to join work in office.?
Till now, only 33 per cent of such employees were asked to attend office due to the novel coronavirus lockdown.Central government employees were asked to work from home due to the lockdown that came into force from March 25.All officers of the level of deputy secretary and above have already been asked to attend office on all working days.
