From April next year, all victims of domestic violence will be able to get support from their employers to stop the violence and get help without worrying about losing their jobs.
Parliament has passed the Domestic Violence – Victims’ Protection Bill sponsored by Jan Logie by 63 votes to 57. The Greens, Labour and New Zealand First stood united in supporting the bill through every stage of the parliamentary process.
“I’m beyond delighted to see this law finally become a reality,” says Jan Logie. “This is a win for victims, a win for employers, and a win for society.
“This law is a world first and it will make a significant difference for people trying to escape domestic violence.”
The Bill provides victims of domestic violence with a pathway to safety by providing up to ten days’ paid leave a year and flexible working arrangements to help deal with the impacts of the violence. Financial insecurity is often a significant barrier to people trying to leave abusive situations.
“Everyone should be able to live free from violence,” says Jan Logie. “But too many people find it impossible to keep their jobs while trying to move house, attend court dates, or settle the kids at a new school.
“And too many employers are unaware of the extent to which domestic violence impacts their employees and workplaces, and are unsure of how to respond. This bill gives them a framework to do the right thing for everyone – victims and themselves.
“Today our Parliament has demonstrated that we are all responsible for ending family violence and we must stop acting like this responsibility ends at the workplace door.”
The new law will come into force on 1 April 2019.
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