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Right to 'disconnect' after working hours! New bill in Lok Sabha, employers fear fine
No calls and emails after office hours! 'Right to Disconnect' bill introduced in Lok Sabha to set boundaries at workplace
Mumbai, December 7, 2025: With the boundaries between work and personal life becoming blurred in the digital age, the 'Right to Disconnect Bill, 2025', which gives employees the legal right to ignore work-related calls, emails or messages after working hours, was introduced in the Lok Sabha today. Nationalist Congress Party MP Supriya Sule has introduced this private member's bill, which she believes will protect the mental health of employees and improve work-life balance.
The bill has been brought to address the problems arising from the increasing use of digital technology. Nowadays, remote work and a culture of being constantly connected force employees to be available till late evening. This has increased problems like lack of sleep, emotional exhaustion and mental stress. According to the bill, employees will not be required to respond to work-related communications after official working hours or on holidays. However, specific terms can be determined through discussions between the employee and the employer, which must be transparent and agreed upon.
The provisions of the bill include several important points:
Communication outside working hours: Employees have the right to ignore calls or messages after working hours.
Overtime compensation: If employees voluntarily work overtime, they will be compensated at their regular rate of pay. This will be useful in curbing unpaid overtime.
Employee Welfare Authority: An independent authority will be established to promote the right to disconnect.
Counseling and Digital Detox Centers: Counseling services and digital detox centers will be set up to raise awareness about the excessive use of technology. This will allow employees to focus on personal relationships and health.
Employers will be subject to penalties for violating these rules. A fine of 1 percent of the total employee salary in the organization will be imposed. The bill has been introduced to address issues of digital stress like 'telepressure' and 'info-obesity', which affect the cognitive abilities of employees.
MP Supriya Sule, while introducing the bill, stressed the need to set healthy boundaries at the workplace. Along with the bill, which was introduced in the winter session of Parliament, she has also introduced the 'Paternity and Paternal Benefits Bill, 2025' and amendments to the Social Security Code. These include minimum wages for gig workers, regulated working hours and social security.
Private member bills often do not become laws, but they are useful for raising issues. If this bill is successful, it will bring about a major change in the work culture in India and employees will get real rest. According to experts, the bill is in line with the global trend of work-life balance and could be revolutionary for Indian workers.
No calls and emails after office hours! 'Right to Disconnect' bill introduced in Lok Sabha to set boundaries at workplace
Mumbai, December 7, 2025: With the boundaries between work and personal life becoming blurred in the digital age, the 'Right to Disconnect Bill, 2025', which gives employees the legal right to ignore work-related calls, emails or messages after working hours, was introduced in the Lok Sabha today. Nationalist Congress Party MP Supriya Sule has introduced this private member's bill, which she believes will protect the mental health of employees and improve work-life balance.
The bill has been brought to address the problems arising from the increasing use of digital technology. Nowadays, remote work and a culture of being constantly connected force employees to be available till late evening. This has increased problems like lack of sleep, emotional exhaustion and mental stress. According to the bill, employees will not be required to respond to work-related communications after official working hours or on holidays. However, specific terms can be determined through discussions between the employee and the employer, which must be transparent and agreed upon.
The provisions of the bill include several important points:
Communication outside working hours: Employees have the right to ignore calls or messages after working hours.
Overtime compensation: If employees voluntarily work overtime, they will be compensated at their regular rate of pay. This will be useful in curbing unpaid overtime.
Employee Welfare Authority: An independent authority will be established to promote the right to disconnect.
Counseling and Digital Detox Centers: Counseling services and digital detox centers will be set up to raise awareness about the excessive use of technology. This will allow employees to focus on personal relationships and health.
Employers will be subject to penalties for violating these rules. A fine of 1 percent of the total employee salary in the organization will be imposed. The bill has been introduced to address issues of digital stress like 'telepressure' and 'info-obesity', which affect the cognitive abilities of employees.
MP Supriya Sule, while introducing the bill, stressed the need to set healthy boundaries at the workplace. Along with the bill, which was introduced in the winter session of Parliament, she has also introduced the 'Paternity and Paternal Benefits Bill, 2025' and amendments to the Social Security Code. These include minimum wages for gig workers, regulated working hours and social security.
Private member bills often do not become laws, but they are useful for raising issues. If this bill is successful, it will bring about a major change in the work culture in India and employees will get real rest. According to experts, the bill is in line with the global trend of work-life balance and could be revolutionary for Indian workers.
Mumbai, December 7, 2025: With the boundaries between work and personal life becoming blurred in the digital age, the 'Right to Disconnect Bill, 2025', which gives employees the legal right to ignore work-related calls, emails or messages after working hours, was introduced in the Lok Sabha today. Nationalist Congress Party MP Supriya Sule has introduced this private member's bill, which she believes will protect the mental health of employees and improve work-life balance.
The bill has been brought to address the problems arising from the increasing use of digital technology. Nowadays, remote work and a culture of being constantly connected force employees to be available till late evening. This has increased problems like lack of sleep, emotional exhaustion and mental stress. According to the bill, employees will not be required to respond to work-related communications after official working hours or on holidays. However, specific terms can be determined through discussions between the employee and the employer, which must be transparent and agreed upon.
The provisions of the bill include several important points:
Communication outside working hours: Employees have the right to ignore calls or messages after working hours.
Overtime compensation: If employees voluntarily work overtime, they will be compensated at their regular rate of pay. This will be useful in curbing unpaid overtime.
Employee Welfare Authority: An independent authority will be established to promote the right to disconnect.
Counseling and Digital Detox Centers: Counseling services and digital detox centers will be set up to raise awareness about the excessive use of technology. This will allow employees to focus on personal relationships and health.
Employers will be subject to penalties for violating these rules. A fine of 1 percent of the total employee salary in the organization will be imposed. The bill has been introduced to address issues of digital stress like 'telepressure' and 'info-obesity', which affect the cognitive abilities of employees.
MP Supriya Sule, while introducing the bill, stressed the need to set healthy boundaries at the workplace. Along with the bill, which was introduced in the winter session of Parliament, she has also introduced the 'Paternity and Paternal Benefits Bill, 2025' and amendments to the Social Security Code. These include minimum wages for gig workers, regulated working hours and social security.
Private member bills often do not become laws, but they are useful for raising issues. If this bill is successful, it will bring about a major change in the work culture in India and employees will get real rest. According to experts, the bill is in line with the global trend of work-life balance and could be revolutionary for Indian workers.
