Australia to Introduce 'Right to Disconnect' Law for Workers
2024-02-12
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1Australia's parliament seems likely to pass a new "right to disconnect" bill that the federal government has proposed.
2The law would prevent employers from asking their workers to keep their phones and computers turned on outside of work hours.
3Employers who ask employees to do so could be fined.
4The aim is to protect workers' rights and improve work-life balance in the country.
5Similar laws are already in place in France, Spain and other European nations.
6Australia's employment minister, Tony Burke, said most lawmakers have expressed support for the bill.
7Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese discussed the proposed law on Wednesday.
8"What we are simply saying is that someone who isn't being paid 24 hours a day shouldn't be penalized if they're not online and available 24 hours a day," he said.
9The bill also includes rules that will give temporary workers guidelines about how to move into permanent work.
10Adam Bandt is the leader of the left-wing Greens. He said his party supports the law.
11So do leaders of the Labor party and other smaller parliamentary groups.
12Some politicians, however, warned that a new labor law would hurt Australia's ability to be competitive with other nations.
13The critics also say making a new labor law might make it difficult for employees who want to work flexible hours.
14Bandt said Australians work an average of six unpaid weeks each year.
15He said that totals about $60 billion of unpaid wages.
16"That time is yours," he said, "not your boss's."
17I'm Dan Friedell.
1Australia's parliament seems likely to pass a new "right to disconnect" bill that the federal government has proposed. 2The law would prevent employers from asking their workers to keep their phones and computers turned on outside of work hours. Employers who ask employees to do so could be fined. 3The aim is to protect workers' rights and improve work-life balance in the country. 4Similar laws are already in place in France, Spain and other European nations. 5Australia's employment minister, Tony Burke, said most lawmakers have expressed support for the bill. 6Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese discussed the proposed law on Wednesday. 7"What we are simply saying is that someone who isn't being paid 24 hours a day shouldn't be penalized if they're not online and available 24 hours a day," he said. 8The bill also includes rules that will give temporary workers guidelines about how to move into permanent work. 9Adam Bandt is the leader of the left-wing Greens. He said his party supports the law. So do leaders of the Labor party and other smaller parliamentary groups. 10Some politicians, however, warned that a new labor law would hurt Australia's ability to be competitive with other nations. The critics also say making a new labor law might make it difficult for employees who want to work flexible hours. 11Bandt said Australians work an average of six unpaid weeks each year. He said that totals about $60 billion of unpaid wages. 12"That time is yours," he said, "not your boss's." 13I'm Dan Friedell. 14Dan Friedell adapted this story for Learning English based on a report by Reuters. 15________________________________________________ 16Words in This Story 17fine -n. a financial penalty 18work-life balance -n. the idea that people should be able to spend their free time without having to think about work 19flexible -adj. something that is not tightly controlled 20wage -n. the money a person is paid for their work 21We want to hear from you. Do you already turn your phone and computer off when you leave work for the day?