Right to Disconnect Bill 2025 tabled in Lok Sabha as MPs push workplace reform measures

Three private member bills introduced in Parliament call for stronger employee protection, the right to disconnect after work hours, and improved menstrual welfare for women.

The Lok Sabha on Saturday witnessed the introduction of the Right to Disconnect Bill, 2025, a private member’s bill aiming to give employees the freedom to disengage from work once office hours end. This proposal was moved by NCP MP Supriya Sule, who has sought the creation of an Employees’ Welfare Authority to oversee compliance and ensure that workers are not compelled to respond to calls, messages, or emails after official working hours or on holidays.

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Private member bills, introduced by MPs who are not ministers, often highlight issues needing legislative attention, even though they are rarely enacted into law. This session saw multiple such bills reflecting the need for modern workplace reforms.

Along with the Right to Disconnect proposal, Parliament also received two bills focused on menstrual welfare. The Menstrual Benefits Bill, 2024, introduced by Congress MP Kadiyam Kavya, seeks a formal legal framework assuring specific workplace support for women during menstruation. This includes essential facilities and targeted welfare measures.

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A third bill, introduced by LJP MP Shambhavi Choudhary, calls for paid menstrual leave for both working women and female students. The proposal also focuses on ensuring access to hygiene products and additional health-related benefits during menstruation.

While private member bills are typically withdrawn after government response, the introduction of all three highlights a growing national conversation around workplace well-being, labour rights, and women’s health.