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The Right to Disconnect Bill, introduced in the Lok Sabha, seeks to give employees the right not to respond to calls and emails after office hours. Supriya Sule introduced this bill in which it is proposed to create a Welfare Authority so that the rules can be implemented. Such a law already exists in many countries of the world where employees have been given the right to remain completely disconnected after work.
New Delhi. A private bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha on Friday which has increased the interest of employed people. This bill talks about giving employees the right not to respond to office calls and emails outside working hours. It has been presented by NCP MP Supriya Sule.
MPs in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha often introduce private bills so that the government can make a law on some issue. However, usually most of such bills are withdrawn after the government’s response. But this bill to get rid of office calls has definitely sparked debate because work life balance has become the biggest issue in today’s times.
What is Right to Disconnect Bill 2025
This bill, introduced by Supriya Sule, states that every employee should have the right not to respond to phone calls or emails outside working hours. There is also a proposal in the bill to create an Employee Welfare Authority which will prepare rules to implement this right.
Under this bill, companies will have to make it clear that employee’s personal time begins as soon as office hours end and any kind of work communication during that time will not be binding. The same rule will apply on holidays also.
Such rule is already applicable in other countries
- This idea of giving employees rest after work is not new. Many countries are already very strict regarding work life balance and this law is strictly enforced there.
- The Right to Disconnect law has been in force in France since 2017. Companies with more than 50 employees have to decide that it will not be necessary to respond to emails and calls after work.
- Spain enacted a rule in 2021 that exempted employees from responding to digital communications outside office hours.
- In Belgium, this right first applied to government employees and was later extended to the private sector where it applies to companies with 20 or more employees.
- In Portugal it is called Right to Rest. Companies are legally prevented from texting or calling employees after work is over.
- Italy and Ireland also have special rules for telework and smart working in which fixed disconnect time has been made mandatory for employees.
In these countries it is believed that long working hours and constant digital connectivity have a negative impact on the mental health and productivity of employees. For this reason, disconnect time has been given legal protection.
How far will this bill go in India
In India, private bills usually do not become laws but this issue is very sensitive and urgent. In the post-Covid era, work from home, hybrid model and the compulsion to be constantly online have made the employees very tired. In such a situation, if the government starts a comprehensive discussion on this, it can bring a big change in the work culture of India.
At present the government’s response is awaited. But it is clear that this issue is as important in India as it is in other countries where laws have even been made regarding employees’ rest, personal time and mental health.
