Introduction
Recently, the Lok Sabha saw the introduction of the Right to Disconnect Bill, 2025, a move aimed at redefining work–life balance in India. The Bill seeks to give employees a legal guarantee: after official working hours, they should be free from work-related calls, emails, messages or video calls, without fear of penalty or loss of job security. This legislation aims to set the boundaries between personal life and work. Because for many employees in India taking rest has become a distant dream.
What the Right to Disconnect Bill, 2025 Proposes
Under the Bill’s provisions:
- An employee will have the right to refuse any work-related communication like calls, emails, messages, or video calls outside agreed working hours or on holidays.
- Employers cannot force the employees or impose penalties on them for choosing not to respond after hours.
- If an employee is working beyond the working hours then he must get compensated for that work and that extra time must be treated as overtime.
- The Bill proposes to create an Employees’ Welfare Authority. It will monitor compliance, supervise grievance redressal, and collect data on after-hours work communications.
In short, the Right to Disconnect Bill, 2025 aims to make sure that stepping away from work after hours is not just a matter of courtesy, but a workers’ right.
Why the Right to Disconnect Bill, 2025 Has Gained Attention
In recent years, especially after the rise of remote and hybrid work, many employees in India have found themselves “always on.” Work chats, urgent emails or calls never stopped, even during nights, weekends or public holidays. Because of this kind of schedule their sleep gets disrupted, stress gets increased, mental health issues and ruining personal and family life.
Right to Disconnect Bill, 2025 aims to restore balance between the employees work and personal life. Through this Bill India will align with many global jurisdictions where similar rights already exist.
Right to Disconnect Bill, 2025 is a major step toward recognizing that human dignity and well-being should not be sacrificed for an overloaded worklife..
What Remains to Be Seen
Since the Right to Disconnect Bill, 2025 is a private member’s bill, there is no guarantee that it will become a law. In the past, most private member bills have not been passed by Parliament, so it remains uncertain whether this proposal will move ahead.
Critics may also raise concerns about practical implementation, for example, how “after hours” will be defined, how emergencies or urgent work demands will be handled, and whether the Bill can balance flexibility for employers with protection for workers.
Moreover, enforcement will matter a lot. The proposed review authority and compliance mechanisms will be crucial to ensure that employees in both public and private sectors can actually “disconnect” without fear of retaliation or invisible pressure.
Conclusion
The Right to Disconnect Bill, 2025 proposes a new fundamental right for employees. It is trying to give a right to the employees to disconnect after working hours without any fear of being penalized or losing their jobs. The Bill is a small yet powerful step to restore balance between work and personal life. Through this step India is trying to change its work culture for a better and healthy life.
About Author:
Ruchi Dalmia holds an LL.M. in Corporate Law and is building her career in the corporate legal field. She possesses strong skills in contract drafting, paralegal work, and legal research. Passionate about Corporate and Commercial Laws, she enjoys exploring how legal principles operate within real-world business contexts. Through her writing, Ruchi strives to make complex legal topics clear, practical, and accessible for readers.