VOA新闻杂志2024--Australia to Introduce ‘Right to Disconnect’ Law for Workers

Australia to Introduce ‘Right to Disconnect’ Law for Workers

Australia's parliament seems likely to pass a new "right to disconnect" bill that the federal government has proposed.

The 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.

The aim is to protect workers' rights and improve work-life balance in the country.

Similar laws are already in place in France, Spain and other European nations.

Australia's employment minister, Tony Burke, said most lawmakers have expressed support for the bill.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese discussed the proposed law on Wednesday.

"What we are simply saying is that someone who isn't being paid 24 hours a day shouldn't be penalized¹ if they're not online and available 24 hours a day," he said.

The bill also includes rules that will give temporary workers guidelines about how to move into permanent work.

Adam Bandt is the leader of the left-wing Greens. He said his party supports the law. So do leaders of the Labor² party and other smaller parliamentary groups.

Some 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.

Bandt said Australians work an average of six unpaid³ weeks each year. He said that totals about $60 billion of unpaid wages.

"That time is yours," he said, "not your boss's."

Words in This Story

fine –n. a financial penalty

work-life balance –n. the idea that people should be able to spend their free time without having to think about work

flexible –adj. something that is not tightly controlled

wage –n. the money a person is paid for their work

1 penalized   

对…予以惩罚( penalize的过去式和过去分词 )； 使处于不利地位

参考例句：

• You will be penalized for poor spelling. 你拼写不好将会受到处罚。
• Team members will be penalized for lateness. 队员迟到要受处罚。

2 labor   

n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦

参考例句：

• We are never late in satisfying him for his labor.我们从不延误付给他劳动报酬。
• He was completely spent after two weeks of hard labor.艰苦劳动两周后，他已经疲惫不堪了。

3 unpaid   

adj.未付款的，无报酬的

参考例句：

• Doctors work excessive unpaid overtime.医生过度加班却无报酬。
• He's doing a month's unpaid work experience with an engineering firm.他正在一家工程公司无偿工作一个月以获得工作经验。