A self-made entrepreneur has hit out at Premier Anthony Albanese’s new “right to disconnect” laws that restrict employers’ contact with staff outside of working hours.
From Monday, it will be illegal for staff to be penalised for failing to respond to communication from bosses outside of working hours, in reasonable circumstances, and large fines will be handed out to companies that breach the new rules.
In a video posted on social media, Rami Ykmour, co-founder of the Rashays restaurant chain, called on Albanese to “tell us the truth and what the real problem is.”
Mr Ykmour has developed Rashays from a Sydney location he opened with his wife, whom he met while working at Pizza Hut, to now having more than 30 restaurants along Australia’s east coast.
“Mr Prime Minister, are you so happy with this law because now no one can call you after five in the afternoon? Is that why you have told us about it?” he asked.
‘God loves our beautiful country and our Prime Minister (but) This is how he tries to earn points, he created an entire TikTok for it.
‘Yes, we want people to spend time at home with their families and for people’s mental health to be in the right place, but Mr Prime Minister, let me tell you something: we have bigger problems, my friend.
“We have a cost of living crisis, there are homeless people, people who can’t pay their bills, people who can’t afford the basics of life. How about you tell us the truth and what the real problem is? Wake up, Mr. Prime Minister.”
Rashays co-founder Rami Ykmour has criticised Anthony Albanese’s new “right to disconnect” laws that prevent bosses from communicating with staff outside of working hours
The business owner turned his restaurant chain into a successful franchise with more than 30 locations.
Mr Albanese supported the new rules, saying they would be good for both businesses and employees.
“A lot of Australians are frustrated by having to be on the phone, email and all that stuff 24 hours a day,” he told ABC Radio.
‘When people are really loyal to their employer and focused on what they need to do and not distracted 24 hours a day, but focused eight hours a day, or if they work more hours than that, longer, you get a more productive workforce.
“The idea that you have to be on call at 10pm if you work 9 to 5 is not reasonable.”
Under the law, employees can refuse to monitor, read or respond to calls, text messages or emails from their employers outside of work hours unless such refusal is deemed “unreasonable.”
Some Latin American and European countries such as France, Spain and Belgium already have similar rules in place.
Trade unions welcomed the legislation, saying it offered workers a way to regain some balance between work and personal life.
“Today is a historic day for workers,” said Michele O’Neil, president of the Australian Council of Trade Unions.
“Australian unions have demanded the right not to work after work,” he said.
One worker said having clear boundaries would help them focus.
“I find it very difficult to switch off and even though I’m not necessarily connected, my brain is constantly working overtime,” Karolina Joseski, a non-profit worker, told AFP.
Mr Albanese said the new rules would boost business productivity during working hours.
“So getting that call from my boss outside of work hours doesn’t necessarily help.”
But the reform was criticised by the Australian Industry Group, which called the laws “hasty, ill-considered and deeply confusing”.
“At the very least, employers and employees will now be unsure whether they can pick up or make a call outside of work hours to offer an additional shift,” he said.
The Business Council of Australia also criticised the rules.
“These laws put Australia’s competitiveness at risk by adding more cost and complexity to the challenge of doing business, and that means less investment and fewer job opportunities,” said BCA chief executive Bran Black.
Employment Minister Murray Watt said he wanted to reinstate the clock-out system.
‘Many workers feel pressured to stay connected to their emails and calls long after their workday has ended.
‘It should not be controversial that workers should not be required to work unpaid overtime.
“The law does not prohibit employers or employees from contacting each other. It simply means that, in most circumstances, an employee does not need to respond until they return to work.”
