XPost: aus.politics, talk.politics.guns, alt.fan.rush-limbaugh   
   XPost: sac.politics   
   From: holy.moe@telstra.com.au   
      
   SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australia will introduce laws giving workers the right   
   to ignore unreasonable calls and messages from their bosses outside of   
   work hours without penalty, with potential fines for employers that breach   
   the rule.   
      
   The "right to disconnect" is part of a raft of changes to industrial   
   relations laws proposed by the federal government under a parliamentary   
   bill, which it says would protect workers' rights and help restore work-   
   life balance.   
      
   Similar laws giving employees a right to switch off their devices are   
   already in place in France, Spain and other countries in the European   
   Union.   
      
   A majority of senators have now declared support for the legislation,   
   Employment Minister Tony Burke from the ruling centre-left Labor party   
   said in a statement on Wednesday.   
      
   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 ($60.13 billion) in unpaid wages   
   across the economy, he added.   
      
   "That time is yours. Not your boss'."   
      
   ($1 = 1.5300 Australian dollars)   
      
   (Reporting by Praveen Menon; Editing by Jamie Freed)   
      
   https://news.yahoo.com/australia-allow-workers-ignore-hours-080534457.html   
      
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