21 March 2017

Have your say on changes to protect domestic violence victims in the workplace

The Justice and Electoral Committee want to hear what New Zealanders think of a new bill proposing changes to workplace laws, to better protect victims of domestic violence. The committee is inviting submissions for the next six weeks.

The Domestic Violence–Victims’ Protection Bill is a member’s bill proposed by Green MP Jan Logie. The bill aims to support victims to stay in paid employment, and address discrimination against them in the workplace. It proposes changes such as:

• providing victims of domestic violence with a minimum of 10 days’ paid leave

• ensuring that employers must take all practical steps to protect their employees from domestic violence

• making it illegal for people to discriminate against domestic violence victims

• giving victims the right to request a change to their work arrangements, for instance changing the hours or days that they have to be at work.

Sarah Dowie, the Chair of the Justice and Electoral Committee, spoke in Parliament at the bill’s first reading. She said “I am very pleased to be part of this movement right now that has unanimous support in the House […] domestic violence is an absolutely insidious, abhorrent thing that occurs in our society and we need to empower women, and men, to come forward and talk about this issue.”

Domestic violence is a problem that affects all New Zealanders. If you have a comment to make on the changes proposed in the Domestic Violence–Victims’ Protection Bill, send the Justice and Electoral Committee a submission.

Tell the Justice and Electoral Committee what you think

Send your submission on the bill by midnight on 28 April 2016.

For more details about the bill:

• Read the full content of the bill

• Get more details about the bill/petition

ENDS

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