Of late, various sections in India have raised voices on the need to bring a law on ‘Right to Disconnect’ in the backdrop of death of a young female employee due to work stress.
- 'Right to Disconnect' means that employees are not obliged to reply to calls made by employers after work hours and such an employee shall not be subject to any disciplinary action by employers.
Need for ‘Right to Disconnect’ in India
- Psycho-Social: Weakens social bonds and leads to isolation and may even elevate risk of mental health issues, cardiovascular diseases, etc.
- Impact on women: A recent report reveals that Indian women in professional jobs, such as auditing, IT, and media, work more than 55 hours a week.
- Others: Loss of productivity; insomnia, disrupted sleep cycles, etc., due to prolonged screen time, among others.
Status of ‘Right to Disconnect’ in India
Currently, India lacks specific laws recognizing right to disconnect from work.
- Constitutional Provisions: Article 38 (directs state to promote welfare of people) and Article 39(e) (directs state to secure strength and health of its workers).
- Judicial pronouncements: Vishakha v State of Rajasthan, 1997 (on safe working environment for women), Ravindra Kumar Dhariwal and Ors v. UoI, 2021 (accommodate persons with disabilities).
- Recent Initiative: In 2018, a Private Member’s Bill was introduced in Lok Sabha, which aimed to delineate the right to disconnect from work after working hours.
Global Position on ‘Right to Disconnect’
|
