In response to hazardous air pollution levels, the Delhi government has mandated that all government and private offices reduce their on-site staff to 50% beginning Thursday, December 18, 2025. The remaining employees must work from home. This measure is intended to decrease pollution in the city.

Delhi's Labour Minister, Kapil Mishra, stated that establishments must strictly enforce the work-from-home regulations and encourage employees to carpool. The Labour Department issued an advisory, emphasizing that non-compliance will be penalized under the Environment (Protection) Act of 1986 and other applicable laws.

The work-from-home order does not apply to essential services. These include hospitals and health services, fire services, prison administration, public transport, electricity services, pollution control departments, the forest department, and the Delhi Jal Board.

In addition to the work-from-home mandate, the government announced a compensation of ₹10,000 for each registered construction worker in Delhi. This is due to the 16-day halt in construction activities caused by the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) provisions aimed at curbing air pollution.

The Delhi government has implemented GRAP 4, the highest and strictest stage of Delhi-NCR's pollution control plan, in response to the worsening air quality. Under GRAP 4, construction and demolition activities are banned, and diesel trucks not carrying essential goods are prohibited from entering Delhi. The government also announced that it would not provide fuel to vehicles lacking Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificates.

Minister Mishra also mentioned that offices are encouraged to adopt flexible working hours in addition to the 50% work-from-home policy. This is to further reduce crowding during commutes.

During the previous period of GRAP restrictions, construction activities in Delhi were suspended, significantly impacting the livelihoods of daily-wage construction workers. The Delhi government decided to compensate these workers for their loss of income caused by the suspension. Unions have urged the government to consider expanding support for workers facing repeated income losses due to pollution-driven restrictions.

The Air Quality Index (AQI) in Delhi remained in the 'very poor' category at 329 on Wednesday. The government's measures aim to protect vulnerable populations, including children, the elderly, and those with respiratory conditions, from the dangers of toxic air exposure.