The Bill aims to establish an Employees’ Welfare Authority to confer the right on every employee to disconnect from work-related calls and e-mails beyond work hours and on holidays.

• A  Private Members’ Bill is a Bill introduced by a Member of Parliament (MP) other than a Minister.

What is Right to Disconnect? 

• Right to Disconnect is a legal protection allowing workers to disconnect from work and ignore work-related electronic communications during non-work hours. 
• Based on Article 24 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR): ‘Everyone has the right to rest and leisure, including reasonable limitation of working hours and periodic holidays with pay.’

Need for Right to Disconnect 

• Work-related stress: Constant availability in the digital age causes high stress, sleep deprivation, and mental exhaustion. 
• Productivity Decline: E.g. Studies show productivity drops when working over 50 hours per week. 
• Socio-psychological impact: Overwork harms work-life balance, social relationships (e.g. isolation),
  • E.g. Ernst & Young employee’s death in Pune due to overwork in 2024.
• Constitutional Basis: 
  • Article 21: Right to Life and Liberty and dignity.
  • Article 39(e): State to ensure that health and strength of workers are not abused.
  • Article 42: State’s responsibility to ensure just and humane working conditions.