A private member’s bill titled ‘The Right to Disconnect Bill, 2025’ was introduced by NCP MP Supriya Sule in the Lok Sabha on Friday. The bill seeks to allow employees to opt out of work-related calls and emails outside of work hours.
The bill further proposes a fine of 1% of the total remuneration of its employees to entities (companies or companies) for violating its provisions.
Members of both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha can introduce bills to raise issues they believe require legislation. However, except in a few cases, such bills are usually withdrawn after the government responds to the proposal.
Counseling, Digital Detox Centers – Key points to know about the Right to Disconnect Act
– The bill asserted the need to respect employees’ personal space by recognizing their right to disconnect and not respond to the employer’s calls, emails, etc. during non-working hours.
– Supriya Sule argued that digital transformation has directly affected the basic conditions of employment, including working hours and workplace boundaries. Therefore, if an employee agrees to work after-hours, overtime pay equal to his salary is also necessary to check the increase in unpaid overtime due to the digital transformation.
– The bill also provides for advisory services to raise awareness among employees and citizens about the judicious use of digital and communication tools for both professional and personal use.
— To help employees free themselves from digital distractions and reconnect with the people around them, the bill includes provisions to establish digital detox centers.
Why Bill?
In a social media post on X, Supriya Sule said the Right to Disconnect Bill “seeks to promote a better quality of life and a healthier work-life balance by reducing the ‘burnout caused by today’s digital culture.’
In the NCP bill, the MP said that studies have found that if an employee is expected to be available 24 hours a day, they tend to show overwork risks such as lack of sleep, the development of stress and emotional exhaustion. “This constant compulsion to answer calls and emails (referred to as ‘telepressure’), constant checking of emails throughout the day, including on weekends and holidays, is said to have destroyed the work-life balance of employees,” the statement on the objects and reasons for the bill said, ANI reported.
