DECENT WORK IN THE DIGITAL AGE: THE RIGHT TO DISCONNECT UNDER THE INTERNATIONAL LABOUR FRAMEWORK

Abstract

The digitalization of work has fundamentally altered the nature of employment, introducing both flexibility and new pressures that challenge traditional labor standards. The growing expectation of constant connectivity, or the “always-on” culture has threatened workers’ overall well-being including the issues of mental health, burnout, and stress. This paper explores the Right to Disconnect (RTD) as a concept that acknowledges workers right to be disengaged from work outside their working hours. By examining the regulations as a legal tool to draw the line between the professional and private live, this concept of RTD is evaluated from the lens of the International Labour Organization’s (ILO) Decent Work Agenda, which is built on four strategic pillars: employment creation, rights at work, social protection, and social dialogue. By examining legal and policy developments in countries such as France, Spain, and Australia, the study highlights how the Right to Disconnect can be institutionalized to protect workers from digital overreach and promote decent work agenda. Hence, the paper argues that the RTD is not merely a modern labor right but a necessary evolution of decent work in the digital era. It emphasizes the importance of embedding digital boundaries into labor standards. Ultimately, the paper calls for global recognition of RTD as part of decent work, thus ensuring that technological progress enhances rather than undermines the dignity and quality of working life.