Supriya Sule, MP from the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), introduced the Right to Disconnect Bill, 2025, in the Lok Sabha on Friday, aiming to legally protect employees from being required to engage in work-related communication outside official working hours and on holidays. The bill states that employees cannot be compelled to answer calls, emails, texts, or video messages after hours, and they cannot face disciplinary action for refusing to do so. It also proposes a penalty of 1 per cent of total employee remuneration for organisations that violate this provision.
To balance employee rights with business needs, the bill outlines provisions for handling genuine emergencies. It calls for the creation of a committee to establish mutually agreed-upon rules for contacting employees beyond regular working hours. Any such communication must occur only within pre-negotiated terms accepted by both employers and employees. Additionally, if employees voluntarily choose to work beyond scheduled hours, they would be entitled to overtime pay at their normal wage rate.
The proposal argues that the rise of digital communication tools has fostered a culture of constant availability, blurring the boundary between professional and personal life. According to the bill’s statement of objects and reasons, this environment has contributed to sleep deprivation, stress, emotional exhaustion, “telepressure” — the urge to respond immediately to work messages — and “info-obesity” caused by continuous monitoring of digital communication. The legislation seeks to restore work-life balance and safeguard employees’ mental and physical well-being.