A self-made millionaire has unleashed on Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s new ‘right to disconnect’ laws that restrict employers’ out-of-hours contact with staff.
From Monday, it is illegal for staff to be penalised for not responding to communication from bosses outside of work hours, under reasonable circumstances, with large fines imposed on businesses that break the new rules.
In a video to social media, Rami Ykmour, the co-founder of restaurant chain Rashays, called on Mr Albanese to ‘tell us the truth and what the real problem is’.
Mr Ykmour built up Rashays from one Sydney location, that 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 no-one can call you after five o’clock now? Is that why you’re bringing it to our attention?’ he said.
‘God love our beautiful country and our Prime Minister (but) this is how he’s trying to get brownie points, he made a whole TikTok for it.
‘Yes we want people to spend time at home with their family and people’s mental health to be in the right place, but Mr Prime Minister let me tell you something: we have bigger issues my friend.
‘We have a cost-of-living crisis, there are people who are homeless, people who can’t afford to pay their bills, people who can’t afford the basics in life. How about you tell us the truth and what the real problem is. Wake up, Mr Prime Minister.’
Rashays co-founder Rami Ykmour took aim at Anthony Albanese’s new ‘right to disconnect’ laws that prevent bosses contacting staff out of working hours
The business owner built up his restaurant chain into a successful franchise with more than 30 locations
Mr Albanese supported the new rules saying that they will be good for businesses as well as employees.
‘For many Australians, they’re getting frustrated that they’re expected to be on their phones, their emails, all of that, for 24 hours a day,’ he told ABC Radio.
‘When people are actually loyal to their employer and focused on what they should be doing and not being distracted during 24 hours a day, but focused on eight hours a day, or if they’re working longer hours than that, longer, you will get a more productive workforce.
‘The idea that you should be on call at 10 o’clock at night if you work a 9-to-5 job isn’t reasonable.’
Under the laws employees can refuse to monitor, read, or respond to their employers’ calls, texts or emails outside work hours unless that refusal is deemed ‘unreasonable’.
Some Latin American and European countries such as France, Spain and Belgium already have similar rules in place.
Unions welcomed the legislation, saying it gave workers a way to reclaim some work-life balance.
‘Today is a historic day for working people,’ said Michele O’Neil, president of the Australian Council of Trade Unions.
‘Australian unions have reclaimed the right to knock off after work,’ she said.
One worker said clear boundaries would help them focus.
‘I have a very hard time disconnecting and even though I may not necessarily be logged on, my brain is constantly working overtime,’ not-for-profit worker Karolina Joseski told AFP.
‘So getting that after-hour call from my boss doesn’t necessarily help.’
Mr Albanese said the new rules would boost productivity for businesses in work hours
But the reform was slammed by the Australian Industry Group, which described the laws as ‘rushed, poorly thought out and deeply confusing’.
‘At the very least, employers and employees will now be uncertain about whether they can take or make a call out of hours to offer an extra shift,’ it said.
The Business Council of Australia also took aim at 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,’ BCA chief executive Bran Black said.
Employment Minister Murray Watt said he wanted to bring back ‘clocking off’ from a job.
‘Many workers feel pressured to remain connected to their emails and calls long after they have finished their workday.
‘It should not be controversial that workers shouldn’t be required to do unpaid overtime.
‘The right does not prohibit employers or employees contacting one another. It just means, in most circumstances, an employee does not need to respond until they are back at work.’
The law is in effect for medium-sized and large companies as of Monday and smaller firms with fewer than 15 employees will be covered from August 26, 2025.
Any disputes would be umpired by the Fair Work Commission.
Fair Work Ombudsman Anna Booth, said people should take a ‘commonsense approach’ to applying the new law.
The question of what is reasonable will ‘depend on the circumstances’, the Fair Work Ombudsman said in a statement.
Deciding factors may include the reason for the contact, the nature of the employee’s role, and their compensation for working extra hours or being available, it said.
