In Australia, new legislation will give workers the right to ignore unreasonable calls and messages from bosses after working hours without being fined, while employers who break the rules could be fined, on Wednesday the 7th of February, reports Reuters.
The “right to disconnect” is part of a series of amendments to labour relations laws proposed by the federal government in a bill tabled in parliament, which it says will protect workers’ rights and help restore work-life balance.
Although there is no specific European Union (EU)-wide law explicitly allowing employees to ignore their employer after working hours, the EU recognises the importance of work-life balance and some EU countries have introduced measures to tackle work-related stress and ensure a better work-life balance.
The law will give employees the right to refuse unreasonable contact after working hours
and allow them to decline unpaid overtime, Employment Minister Tony Burke has said in a statement on Wednesday.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has said that people who are not paid for working around the clock should not be penalised for not being constantly available.
The bill, expected to be tabled later this week, also includes provisions such as a more clearly defined transition from temporary to permanent work, as well as minimum standards for temporary workers and truck drivers.
Some politicians, employers’ groups and business leaders have warned that the right to disconnect from work is an overreaction that will undermine the move towards flexible working and affect competitiveness.
Australians work an average of six weeks of unpaid overtime each year, generating more than 92 billion Australian dollars (55.8 billion euros) in unpaid wages for the economy.
Also read: Study: Latvian banking sector has the lowest customer service quality in Baltic States
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