Ukraine's New Civil Code to Grant Workers the 'Right to Disconnect' on Weekends.

Proposed New Civil Code for Ukraine

According to Novyny.live: A draft of Ukraine's new Civil Code introduces a groundbreaking 'right to disconnect' for employees. This provision would legally allow workers to ignore work-related messages in group chats and other channels during weekends, public holidays, and while on vacation. The proposed legislation formally establishes a worker's 'right to informational peace'.

Critically, the draft law states that ignoring such messages cannot be grounds for any disciplinary action or penalty. However, an exception is made for communication outside of work hours in cases involving a threat to national security, public order, or to prevent an accident. This move reflects a growing global trend to protect personal time in an 'always-on' digital work culture.

Parliamentary Debates

Among other topics under discussion in parliament, Speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk announced that a controversial proposal to lower the marriage age to 14 will be scrapped. These legislative changes highlight an active debate in Ukraine concerning both workers' rights and broader social responsibilities in the modern era.

Establishing a legal 'right to informational peace' could significantly improve work-life balance, especially as digital tools make remote communication ubiquitous. It also signals increasing attention to employee mental health and overall well-being.

Simultaneously, the debate over the marriage age underscores the wider context of social reform in Ukraine, where issues of human rights and social justice are gaining prominence. These initiatives collectively point to a national effort to develop new approaches for regulating labor relations in response to contemporary challenges.