Australia introduces law to allow employees ignore work calls after duty hours

Australia is set to bring a law that will grant employees the freedom to refuse irrational calls and messages from their supervisors during non-working hours. Employers who violate this policy may face fines.

The federal government is proposing a number of changes to industrial relations laws, including the “right to disconnect,” as part of a parliamentary bill that it claims would safeguard workers’ rights and promote work-life balance.

France, Spain, and other European Union nations already have laws granting their employees the right to turn off their devices.

According to a statement released on Wednesday by Employment Minister Tony Burke of the ruling center-left Labor party, the majority of senators have now stated their support for the legislation.

The provision stops employees from working unpaid overtime through a right to disconnect from unreasonable contact out of hours, Burke said.

“What we are simply saying is that someone who isn’t being paid 24 hours a day shouldn’t be penalised if they’re not online and available 24 hours a day,” Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told reporters earlier on Wednesday.

The bill is expected to be introduced in parliament later this week.

The bill also includes other provisions like a clearer pathway from temporary to permanent work and minimum standards for temporary workers and truck driver.

Some politicians, employer groups and corporate leaders warned the right to disconnect provision was an overreach and would undermine the move towards flexible working and impact competitiveness.

The left-wing Greens, which supports the rule and was the first to propose it last year, said it was a big win for the party. A deal had been reached between Labor, smaller parties and independents to support this bill, Greens leader Adam Bandt said on Twitter.

“Australians work an average of six weeks unpaid overtime each year,” Bandt said.

That equated to more than A$92 billion (US$60.13 billion) in unpaid wages across the economy, he added.

“That time is yours. Not your boss’.”

(with inputs from Reuters)