New Zealand to grant 10 day paid leave for domestic abuse survivors
On July 25th, New Zealand passed a new law that would grant paid leave to domestic abuse survivors. The new legislation hopes to enact an economic incentive in workplaces to protect domestic abuse survivors.
According to the Guardian, the legislation mandates employers grant a 10 day leave to survivors. The leave is separate from sick days and holidays.
Green MP Jan Logie, who introduced the legislation, says, “Domestic violence doesn’t respect that split between work and life.”
The Guardian reports that New Zealand police respond to a domestic abuse incident every four minutes. New Zealand has one of the highest rates of domestic abuse. Domestic violence costs New Zealand about $3 billion a year.
The legal measure passed with a 63 to 57 vote. Jan Logie says the bill is “about changing the cultural norms and saying ‘we all have a stake in this and it is not OK’.”
Domestic abuse survivors will not have to provide documentation of their abusive circumstances. Employers will work with survivors to create a more flexible and convenient work plan after the 10 days leave. This includes changes of work location, working remotely, etc.
Holly Carrington, a representative for Shine, an organization fighting against domestic violence, said, “It sets a solid benchmark for what businesses are legally required to do.”
The Philippines also passed a 10 day paid leave for domestic abuse survivors in 2004.