Kerala’s Right to Disconnect Bill 2025: Employees can ignore work calls/ emails after hours — 5 countries that already do it

Considering the rising debates on the need for work-life balance in the fast-paced and digital world we live in, Kerala plans to set its new Right to Disconnect Bill 2025 to help private sector workers manage their workload better. The new bill gives private-sector employees the right to disconnect after work hours, reports suggest. This means workers can choose not to attend online meetings, calls, emails, video conferences, or messages once their official workday ends, as defined in their company agreement.

Importantly, the bill also ensures that employees won’t face any disciplinary action— such as demotion, dismissal, or penalties— for choosing to log off after hours.

To address any related complaints, the bill proposes setting up a Private Sector Employment Grievance Redressal Committee in every district. This committee will include the regional joint labour commissioner (as chairman), the district labour officer (as secretary), and the deputy labour commissioner (as member)— all serving in their official capacities.

Many people have much-appreciated Kerala’s Right to Disconnect Bill 2025, and if implemented the state would be the first in India to do so. Meanwhile, here we list some countries that already have this law for better work-life balance:

France implemented its Right to Disconnect law in 2017, as a part of the El Khomri labor reform, reports suggest. The key rule is that companies with 50+ employees must establish policies limiting after-hours emails and work communications. Employees have the right to ignore work-related messages outside office hours.

In 2018, Spain too included the Right to Disconnect law in its Workers’ Statute. According to it, employers must ensure that their employees can disconnect from digital communications related to work after their shift timings are done. Companies must develop internal policies to prevent pressure to respond outside working hours.

In 2017, Italy too added the Right to Disconnect law as a part of the Jobs Act labor reform, reports suggest. According to it, employees in both public and private sectors have the right to disconnect during their rest periods. This ensures that work does not invade their personal time, thus leading to better work-life balance.

While Germany doesn't have a Right to Disconnect law, it is indirectly enforced via labor courts and company agreements, as per reports. The idea is that employees are not expected to respond to emails or calls outside their office hours. Some companies in Germany also implement policies restricting after-hours communications.

Belgium has a Right to Disconnect law as a part of Belgian work-life balance regulations. As per it, employees cannot be forced to answer work-related emails or messages after their working hours are over. And so, employers must respect their contractual work schedules.