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Bill allowing domestic violence victims 10 days paid leave drawn from ballot

Author
Newstalk ZB Staff,
Publish Date
Thu, 1 Dec 2016, 2:03pm
File photo (NZH)

Bill allowing domestic violence victims 10 days paid leave drawn from ballot

Author
Newstalk ZB Staff,
Publish Date
Thu, 1 Dec 2016, 2:03pm

UPDATED 5.37pm More financial support could be coming the way of domestic violence victims should Green MP Jan Logie get her way.

LISTEN ABOVE: Green MP Jan Logie spoke to Larry Williams about her Bill

She's had a Bill drawn on the issue in a Parliamentary Ballot today.

It would allow for domestic violence victims to receive 10 days paid leave from their employer to help them handle their situation.

"Well, we know in New Zealand that we have, I'd describe it as, an epidemic of domestic violence. We should be using all the tools we can to help address that problem."

She said her bill would benefit both victims and employers.

Unionists are supporting the bill with Council of Trade Unions Secretary Sam Huggard saying many union-negotiated collective agreements already have leave provisions.

And he said there are already companies making the changes.

"Countdown have announced, after negotiations with First Union, to include these sorts of provisions in their employment agreements. It's becoming an area where I think responsible companies are wanting to make a positive difference."

He said the bill will mean there's a base minimum level of protection for non-union workers.

Other opposition MPs have had the luck of the draw in today's Member's Bill ballot.

Fellow Green MP Gareth Hughes has had his Student Loan Scheme Bill pulled, which allows for student loan holders to divert their repayments into a first home purchase scheme.

And Labour MP Kelvin Davis has also been a winner, with a bill that would require the government to build 10,000 affordable homes annually.

 

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