"Fines for Contacting Outside Working Hours"... Australia Moves to Amend Labor Relations Law

Guaranteeing Workers' Right to 'Disconnection'

In Australia, a law is being proposed to prevent supervisors or employers from contacting workers outside of working hours.

On the 8th (local time), AAP news agency and others reported that the Australian Senate plans to soon pass an amendment to the industrial relations law containing this provision and then send it to the House of Representatives. This law is supported by the ruling party, as well as the minor opposition Green Party and some independent lawmakers.

If the amendment passes, employers must not make unreasonable contact outside of paid working hours unless it is an extremely urgent matter. If contact is made via email or phone outside of working hours, workers can report it to the Fair Work Commission, and if a report is filed, the employer will be fined. The amendment also guarantees workers the "right to disconnect" by allowing them to ignore work-related communications such as emails outside of working hours, and the company cannot penalize them for this. This aims to eliminate so-called "shadow labor," where workers have to work without pay.

Tony Burke, Minister for Employment from the center-left Labor Party, announced on the 7th in a statement that "the majority of Australian senators have declared their support for the bill." Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese emphasized, "Such laws are already in effect in several European countries," and added, "The amendment means that workers should not be disadvantaged for not being online during unpaid hours."

Adam Bandt, leader of the Green Party who pushed for this law, stated, "Australian workers work an average of six weeks unpaid each year, resulting in over AUD 92 billion (approximately KRW 79.7 trillion) in 'unpaid wages' across the economy," and emphasized, "This time belongs to you, not your boss." However, the conservative opposition opposes the measure, arguing that it could hinder labor flexibility and impose excessive burdens and costs on small and medium-sized enterprises.

Additionally, the amendment includes provisions allowing unions to enter workplaces without prior notice to investigate unpaid wages. It also specifies pathways for temporary workers to transition to permanent employment and ensures the right to rest for gig workers.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.