No Work Calls After Office Hrs: Right to Disconnect Bill Introduced
In a major development poised to reshape India’s increasingly “always-on” work culture, the Right to Disconnect Bill, 2025, has been introduced as a Private Member’s Bill in the Lok Sabha.
Championed by Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) Member of Parliament, Supriya Sule, the proposed legislation seeks to grant employees the legal authority to ignore work-related calls, emails, and messages outside of their designated working hours and during holidays, without fear of disciplinary action.
Right to Disconnect Bill: Combating Digital Burnout
The bill arrives amid intense national debate over employee burnout and work-life balance, which the rise of digital communication tools and the prevalence of remote work have severely eroded.
The statement of objects and reasons accompanying the bill highlights the phenomenon of “telepressure”—the persistent urge to respond to work messages—and the resultant issues of stress, sleep deprivation, and emotional exhaustion, often leading to a condition described as “info-obesity.”
India already has one of the world’s longest official workweeks, and constant digital availability has turned evenings and weekends into extensions of the office.
The proposed law is a direct attempt to re-establish healthy boundaries.
Key Provisions and Employer Mandates Under Right to Disconnect Bill
The core of the Bill is the establishment of an Employees’ Welfare Authority.
This authority would monitor compliance and ensure the effective implementation of the disconnect rule.
Crucially, the Bill mandates that companies employing more than 10 workers must negotiate specific terms and conditions regarding communications outside of official work hours with their employees or union representatives.
Furthermore, the legislation specifies penalties for non-compliance.
Companies that fail to respect an employee’s right to disconnect may face sanctions. These penalties could amount to 1% of the total remuneration paid to their employees.
To address instances where after-hours work is mutually agreed upon, the Bill mandates that employees must be compensated with overtime pay at the normal wage rate, curbing the surge in unpaid overtime work driven by digital transformation.
Beyond the Workplace: Detox and Counselling
The Bill proposes a comprehensive approach to employee well-being. This includes government intervention, in collaboration with companies, to provide counseling services.
These services will increase awareness about the reasonable use of digital tools.
The draft law also calls for the establishment of Digital Detox Centres.
These physical spaces help workers unplug, move beyond digital distractions, and focus on personal relationships.
The Road Ahead for a Private Member’s Bill
The introduction of the Bill signals a critical national conversation on mental health and worker rights. However, its future in the legislative process remains uncertain.
The Bill is a Private Member’s Bill; an MP who is not a minister introduced it.
This authority would monitor compliance and ensure the effective implementation of the disconnect rule.
The proposal has forcefully placed the need for legally enforceable work boundaries at the forefront of the legislative agenda.
It echoes similar ‘right to disconnect’ laws already enacted in countries like France and Australia.
Note: We are also on WhatsApp, LinkedIn, and YouTube to get the latest news updates. Subscribe to our Channels. WhatsApp– Click Here, YouTube – Click Here, and LinkedIn– Click Here.