Abstract
In the context of digital transformation and the expansion of remote work, the right to disconnect has emerged as an essential safeguard to ensure employees can disengage from work-related obligations beyond prescribed working hours. Although this right has not yet been formally recognized in the labor law of Vietnam, existing provisions on working time and rest periods under the Labour Code (2019) partially embody the principle of protecting employees’ substantive rest. However, the proliferation of digitally mediated work has exposed notable regulatory gaps, particularly the rise of “hidden overtime” and implicit expectations of constant online availability. Drawing on theoretical analysis and comparative international perspectives, this study examines the interaction between the right to disconnect and current legal provisions on working time and rest, highlighting structural limitations in the existing framework and the growing need for more effective legal protection of employees’ right to rest in the digital era
