Gandhinagar Secretariat staff object to digital attendance, write to CM

A digital attendance system is to be implemented from February 1, 2025, was opposed by the Gujarat Secretariat Staff Association. A General Administration Department circular dated January 27, 2025, mandated digital attendance for officers/employees in all departments of the Secretariat complex, government offices of Karmayogi Bhavan, Udyog Bhavan, Collector and DDO office – Gandhinagar.

The association alleged that although this circular is related to the interests of employees-officers, no communication has been made with the government employees or employee unions, who are the main stakeholders in this policy. This policy has been declared unilaterally, against which this association expresses strong objection and opposition.

The employees’ association further stated that in response to this circular, the association has brought the following issues and concerns to the notice of the government and has submitted a proposal to maintain the current system for attendance (Integrated Security Access Control and Man Management System) in the Secretariat.

The association submitted in writing to the Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel that the digital attendance system is like a surveillance system against the privacy of the employees due to various permissions like location of the employee’s personal device and camera.

When the employees play the role of ‘Karma Yogi’ in the development of the state and perform their duties with commitment and sincerity even after staying late after the office hours, such unilateral decisions weaken the morale of the employees and are mentally discouraging, argued the employees.

In this policy, since the personal smart phones of the employees are to be used for government work without consent, it is inconvenient for the employees and this policy is completely inappropriate, wrote the association.

This system will collect the personal data of the employee through location monitoring third party application, the lack of a responsible system for the security of this data and the unclear policy will be a violation of the fundamental right to privacy of the employee, it said.

The letter further read that the serious challenges to the security of the employee’s personal data cannot be denied and continuous surveillance of the employee through the application is tantamount to a violation of the employee's ‘right to disconnect’.

The association has demanded that this policy may cause harassment of the female employees of the subordinates due to the use of location and face attendance data from the camera.

Therefore, this association expresses its complete opposition to the introduction of this Digital Attendance System and requests to maintain the existing Integrated Security Access Control and Man Management System for Attendance.