Labor group backs ‘right to disconnect’ bill

Published by rudy Date posted on February 11, 2017

By Leslie Ann G. Aquino, Manila Bulletin, Feb 11, 2017

The proposed bill that will allow workers to “disconnect” or ignore text messages, phone calls and e-mails from superiors after work hours gained the support of the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP).

TUCP said workers should be given the “right to disconnect” and not be reprimanded or penalized for not responding to text messages and emails sent or received after work hours.

“Although it is the employee’s choice to either respond or ignore electronic communications after work, they are constrained to respond anyway for fear of reprimand from overbearing bosses,” TUCP President Ruben Torres said.

Authored by Quezon City Rep. Winston Castelo, House Bill 4721 or An Act Granting Employees the Right to Disconnect from Work-Related Electronic Communications after Work Hours defines work hours to include “time spent reading and responding through electronic means, including but not limited to emails, short messaging services (SMS), and mobile phone calls, after work hours.

TUCP said while information technology helped increase productivity and connectivity, workers must be given “a choice and compensated for doing work-related communications after work.”

According to the group unpaid work hours spent in answering employers’ text messages and emails is widespread.

Labor Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III earlier said the “right to disconnect,” or letting employees disregard work-related communications after office hours without disciplinary action is, technically, a voluntary engagement between employers and their employees.

“Answering or ignoring texts, emails from employers after working hours is a voluntary engagement of an employee, and they are not obliged to respond or not. The right to disconnect is a choice of an employee,” Bello said.

Tags: Labor group backs ‘right to disconnect’ bill, Labor Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III, Manila, Manila Bulletin, Manila news, News today, TUCP

June 2025

Philippine Environment Month!
“Action for Nature, for the Future!”


Invoke Article 33 of the ILO Constitution
against the military junta in Myanmar
to carry out the 2021 ILO Commission of Inquiry recommendations
against serious violations of
Forced Labour and Freedom of Association protocols.

Accept National Unity Government (NUG)
of Myanmar.  Reject Military!

#WearMask #WashHands #Distancing #TakePicturesVideosturesVideos

Time to support & empower survivors. Time to spark a global conversation. Time for #GenerationEquality to #orangetheworld!

Monthly Observances:

  1 Jun – World Day of Parents

  5 Jun – World Environment Day 

  7 Jun – World Food Safety Day 

  8 Jun – World Oceans Day

12 Jun – World Day Against Child Labour

15 Jun – World Elder Abuse Awareness Day 

16 Jun – International Day of Family Remittances 

17 Jun – World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought

20 Jun – World Refugee Day 

25 Jun – Day of the Seafarer 

27 Jun – Micro-, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Day

 

 Daily Observances:

June 6: Migrant Workers Day

June 19: Filipino Youth Day 
June 25: Day of the Filipino Seafarer

Categories