Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. _______ 
INTRODUCED BY REP. PM VARGAS 
AN ACT 
GRANTING EMPLOYEES THE RIGHT TO DISCONNECT FROM WORK-
RELATED ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS AFTER WORK HOURS, 
AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO. 442, 
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE LABOR CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES, 
AS AMENDED 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Technology has played a great role in the advances of labor and 
employment in the economy. However, amidst the challenges posed by the 
COVID-19 pandemic, the lines that separate work-related tasks from home-
related concern have blurred. The unfortunate situation has surfaced labor 
issues that pre-date work-from-home setups: the right to limited working 
hours and “the right to disconnect”. 
Article 24 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights enshrines the 
right to limited working hours, stating that “everyone has the right to rest and 
leisure, including reasonable limitation of working hours and periodic 
holidays with pay.” 
In relation to this, the International Labour Organization (ILO) notably 
reported the case of a man working in a major snack food processing company 
in Japan who has worked for as many as 110 hours a week, and died from a 
heart attack at the age of 34. In an attempt to diminish the risks of “burnouts” 
or the physical, psychological, and emotional distress caused by a total 
inability to rest and diminished work-family balance, the Government of 
France adopted a labor law that, among other provisions, included a right to 
disconnect. Under the right to disconnect, employees do not have to take calls 
or read emails related to work during their time off. 
July 14, 2022
9:34 am
1983


As a country that values the well-being of its people and the labor force, 
the State has a legal obligation to ensure the right to safe and healthy working 
conditions, the right to limited working hours and paid holidays, and in turn, 
the right to disconnect as important labor rights. 
This bill recognizes that working excessive hours pose a danger to 
workers’ health and to their families. Thus, this legislation shall grant 
employees 
the 
right 
to 
disconnect 
from 
work-related 
electronic 
communications after work hours, amending for the purpose Presidential 
Decree No. 442, otherwise known as the Labor Code of the Philippines, as 
amended. 
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly 
sought.  
REP. PM VARGAS   
Fifth District, Quezon City 


Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. _______ 
INTRODUCED BY REP. PM VARGAS 
AN ACT 
GRANTING EMPLOYEES THE RIGHT TO DISCONNECT FROM WORK-
RELATED ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS AFTER WORK HOURS, 
AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO. 442, 
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE LABOR CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES, 
AS AMENDED 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines 
in Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the “Workers’ Right 
to Disconnect Act”. 
SECTION 2. Amendatory Provision. – Article 84 of Presidential Decree 
No. 442, as amended, is hereby amended to read as follows: 
Article 84. Hours worked. Hours worked shall include (a) 
all time during which an employee is required to be on duty or 
to be at a prescribed workplace; and (b) all time during which 
an employee is suffered or permitted to work, INCLUDING TIME 
SPENT READING AND RESPONDING TO WORK-RELATED 
COMMUNICATIONS SENT THROUH ELECTRONIC MEANS, 
INCLUDING 
BUT 
NOT 
LIMITED 
TO 
E-MAIL, 
SHORT 
MESSAGING SERVICES (SMS), AND MOBILE PHONE CALLS, 
AFTER WORKING HOURS. 
Rest periods of short duration during working hours 
shall be counted as hours worked. 
1983


SECTION 3.  A new Article 84-A is hereby inserted after Article 84 of the 
same law to read as follows: 
  
ARTICLE 84-1. RIGHT TO DISCONNECT. – AN EMPLOYEE 
SHALL NOT BE REPRIMANDED, PUNISHED, OR OTHERWISE 
SUBJECTED TO DISCIPLINARY 
ACTION 
IF 
HE 
OR 
SHE 
DISREGARDS A WORK-RELATED COMMUNICATION SENT AFTER 
WORK-HOURS, SUBJECT TO THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF 
THE POLICY TO BE ESTABLISHED BY THE EMPLOYER AS 
REQUIRED IN ARTICLE 85-B HEREOF. 
SECTION 4.  A new Article 84-B is hereby inserted after Article 84 of the 
same law to read as follows: 
  
ARTICLE 84-B. POLICY ON AFTER-HOURS USE OF 
TECHNOLOGY. – IT SHALL BE THE DUTY OF EVERY EMPLOYER 
TO ESTABLISH THE HOURS WHEN EMPLOYEES ARE NOT 
SUPPOSED TO SEND OR ANSWER WORK-RELATED EMAILS, 
TEXTS, OR CALLS. THE EMPLOYER SHALL DETERMINE THE 
CONDITIONS AND EXEMPTIONS THEREFROM, SUBJECT TO 
SUCH RULES AND REGULATIONS AS THE SECRETARY OF 
LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT MAY PROVIDE. 
SECTION 5. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – Within ninety (90) 
days from the effectivity of this Act, the Secretary of the Department of 
Labor and Employment shall, in coordination with other stakeholders, 
issue 
the 
necessary 
rules 
and 
regulations 
for 
the 
effective 
implementation of this Act.  
SECTION 6. Separability Clause. – If, for any reason, any provision of this 
Act is declared unconstitutional or invalid, parts or provisions of this Act 
which are not affected shall continue to be in full force and effect. 
SECTION 7. Repealing Clause. – All laws, executive orders, presidential 
decrees, Implementing Rules and Regulations inconsistent with this Act are 
hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
SECTION 8. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general 
circulation. 
Approved,