No calls and emails after office hours: Right to Disconnect Bill introduced in Lok Sabha to set workplace boundaries

The debate over work-life balance in India moved into Parliament on Friday when Lok Sabha Member of Parliament Supriya Sule introduced a private member’s proposal that seeks to give employees the legal right to disconnect from work after official hours. The “Right to Disconnect Bill, 2025” aims to create clear and enforceable boundaries between professional demands and personal time, as digital communication, constant connectivity, and remote work have increasingly blurred the two.

What the Right to Disconnect Bill proposes

At the core of the Bill is a simple idea. Employees should not be obligated to answer calls, emails or messages outside designated work hours and on holidays, regardless of the nature or urgency of the communication. The proposal also outlines penalties for employers who do not comply, with a suggested sanction of 1% of the total remuneration of the organisation’s employees for violations, ensuring stronger accountability and clearer protection for workers.

Why the Bill argues boundaries are necessary

The Bill contends that constant availability has become a structural feature of the modern workplace. Sule says that digital tools allow flexibility but have also produced a culture where workers feel pressure to check emails or respond to messages late into the evening. The accompanying statement cites research linking such practices to sleep deprivation, emotional exhaustion and a form of cognitive overload described as “telepressure” or “info-obesity”.

• India’s Right to Disconnect Bill 2025 explained: Here’s why employees can now legally switch off like France, Italy, Portugal, and Australia

The legislation positions the right to disconnect as a measure to protect personal space and mental health. However, it acknowledges the varied needs of companies and leaves room for negotiation between employers and employees. It allows organisations to set specific terms of service that suit their work models while requiring transparency and consent.

Rules for overtime and digital responsibility

If employees choose to work outside official hours, the Bill states that overtime pay at the standard wage rate should apply. This is intended to curb the rise in unpaid overtime that has grown with digital transformation.

The draft law also proposes the creation of an employees’ welfare authority responsible for promoting the right to disconnect. Additional provisions include counselling services to increase awareness of reasonable technology use and the establishment of digital detox centres to help workers reduce distractions and focus on personal relationships.

• Will JEE Main and CUET shift to pen-and-paper after new recommendations by the parliamentary panel?

Two other proposals introduced by Sule

Sule introduced two additional private member’s proposals in the House. The first is the Paternity and Paternal Benefits Bill, 2025, which seeks to introduce paid paternal leave and support shared caregiving during early childhood. The second is an amendment to the Code on Social Security intended to classify platform-based gig workers as a distinct group with rights relating to minimum wages, regulated hours, social security and fair contracts.

What private member’s bills can signal

Private member’s bills rarely become law. They allow members of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha to flag issues on which they believe legislation is needed. Most are withdrawn after the government responds. The Right to Disconnect Bill, however, draws attention to a shift already underway in many workplaces as employees and employers reconsider how digital communication should be used and what limits are necessary to maintain a sustainable working life.

Whether the proposal progresses or not, the questions it raises are likely to remain in public debate. The issue is not only about calls and emails. It concerns how technology has altered the basic terms of employment and how workers maintain the ability to step away once the working day ends.

(with inputs from Agencies) Ready to navigate global policies? Secure your overseas future. Get expert guidance now!