Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) Member of Parliament Supriya Sule introduced the “Right to Disconnect Bill, 2025” in the Lok Sabha on Friday, proposing legal protections for employees to ignore work-related calls and emails outside official hours and on holidays.
According to details received by The Chenab Times, the private member’s bill establishes an Employees’ Welfare Authority to enforce the right. It aims to address burnout from constant digital connectivity, citing risks like sleep deprivation, stress, and “info-obesity” from round-the-clock availability.
Information was available with The Chenab Times that non-compliant entities face sanctions of 1 percent of total employee remuneration. The bill also mandates overtime pay for agreed out-of-hours work, counseling for digital tool awareness, and digital detox centers. Sule described it as a step toward healthier boundaries in the digital era.
This is Sule’s second attempt; she introduced a similar bill in 2019. Congress MP Shashi Tharoor tabled a related amendment to cap work hours and add mental health safeguards. Private member’s bills rarely become law, often withdrawn after government response.
Kerala became the first state to enact a Right to Disconnect law in 2025. A 2024 Indeed survey showed strong Indian support for such policies. No immediate government reaction was available.
The Chenab Times News Desk