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Australia’s 2024 right-to-disconnect law reduced full-time workers’ unpaid overtime, but part-time workers saw increases due to delayed compliance in small businesses.
Australia's right to disconnect laws, implemented in 2024, appear to be reducing unpaid overtime for full-time workers, with weekly unpaid hours dropping from 6.2 in 2023 to 3.8 in 2025—saving workers about $8,892 annually.
Researchers attribute much of the decline to the new law, though cost-of-living pressures and stronger bargaining may also play a role.
However, part-time workers saw unpaid overtime rise from 2.8 to 3.7 hours per week, likely due to their concentration in sectors like hospitality and retail, where small businesses only began complying in August 2025.
Experts highlight ongoing challenges for part-time workers, including job insecurity and limited awareness of rights, and recommend stronger collective agreements with automatic overtime triggers and transparent hour tracking.
Employment Minister Amanda Rishworth said the law has faced no major disputes and a survey found 58% of employers reported improved employee engagement and productivity.
La ley australiana de 2024 sobre el derecho a desconectar redujo las horas extras no pagadas de los trabajadores a tiempo completo, pero los trabajadores a tiempo parcial experimentaron aumentos debido al cumplimiento tardío en las pequeñas empresas.