Kenya Could Soon Give Workers the ‘Right to Disconnect’

Kenya could soon give workers the ‘right to disconnect’, letting them ignore emails, texts, and phone calls out of hours and outlawing demands for unpaid work. Cheaper internet and devices are pushing more of Kenya’s workforce online, but some Kenyans say this is disrupting work-life balance and eroding leisure time. So senators have proposed the Employment (Amendment) Bill to implement workers' right to disconnect. If passed, it would make Kenya the first African country with the right to switch off. In 2017, France gave some workers the right to disconnect. In 2021, Portugal created fines for employers who contact staff outside of hours and banned them from monitoring employees working from home. Watch the video to learn more about workers' right to disconnect.