In a significant move aimed at protecting the personal time of India's workforce, a new private member's bill was tabled in the Lok Sabha on Friday. The legislation, named the "Right to Disconnect Bill, 2025," was introduced by Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) Member of Parliament Supriya Sule.
What Does the Right to Disconnect Bill Propose?
The core objective of the bill is to legally empower employees to ignore work-related communications, such as phone calls and emails, outside their designated office hours. To ensure compliance, the bill includes a strong deterrent for employers. It proposes that entities like companies or societies found violating these provisions would face a penalty equivalent to 1% of the total remuneration of their employees.
The bill argues that the digital age has fundamentally blurred the lines between office and home. It states that there is an urgent need to respect the personal space of employees by formally recognising their right to disconnect. Furthermore, it mandates that if an employee does agree to work beyond their scheduled hours, they must be compensated with overtime pay at a rate equal to their standard wage. This provision aims to curb the rising trend of unpaid overtime facilitated by constant digital connectivity.
Counseling and Digital Detox Centres: Key Features
Beyond just setting boundaries, the proposed legislation takes a holistic approach to tackling digital burnout. It includes provisions for establishing counseling services to raise awareness among both employees and the general public about the reasonable use of digital tools for professional and personal purposes.
In a unique and forward-thinking measure, the bill also calls for the creation of digital detox centres. These centres would be designed to help individuals break free from the constant pull of digital notifications and reconnect with the people and world around them.
The Motivation Behind the Legislation
Explaining the rationale for the bill, Supriya Sule took to social media platform X. She stated that the Right to Disconnect Bill "aims to foster a better quality of life and a healthier work-life balance by reducing the burnout caused by today's digital culture."
The statement of objects and reasons attached to the bill cites studies showing the severe risks of constant availability. Employees expected to be on-call 24/7 face higher risks of sleep deprivation, chronic stress, and emotional exhaustion. The bill specifically identifies 'telepressure'—the persistent urge to respond immediately to calls and emails—as a key factor destroying work-life balance, a habit that often extends into weekends and holidays.
It is important to note that while MPs from both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha can introduce such private member's bills to highlight issues, they are typically withdrawn after the government presents its views on the matter, with only a few exceptions.
