The Right to Disconnect Bill, 2025, a private member's bill, was introduced in the Indian Parliament by Supriya Sule, a Member of Parliament from the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), during the Winter Session 2025. The bill seeks to legally enshrine the right of employees to disengage from work-related communications outside of designated working hours, without fear of professional repercussions.
The proposed legislation is modelled on similar laws already enacted in European countries, most notably France (which introduced the right to disconnect in 2017 under its Labour Code), Portugal, Belgium, and Spain. In India, the bill is particularly relevant to the Information Technology (IT) sector, Business Process Outsourcing (BPO), and knowledge workers in fintech, consulting, and media, who frequently face expectations of round-the-clock availability due to global clients and time-zone differences.
Key provisions of the bill include: the right to ignore work emails, messages, and calls beyond stipulated work hours; prohibition on employer retaliation for exercising this right; mandatory negotiation of disconnect policies within organisations; and redressal mechanisms for violations. Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) may have separate compliance thresholds.
Proponents argue the bill addresses growing concerns around workplace burnout, mental health deterioration, erosion of work-life balance, and employee dignity in the digital age. The COVID-19 pandemic and rise of remote work further blurred boundaries between personal and professional life.
Critics caution that implementation challenges remain, particularly in export-oriented IT services where client time-zones necessitate after-hours work. Industry bodies like NASSCOM have flagged concerns about competitiveness. The bill also links to broader labour reform discussions under India's consolidated Labour Codes.