Additional feedback invited on Domestic Violence—Victims' Protection Bill
Mon 15 May 2017
The Domestic Violence—Victims' Protection Bill is open for a second round of submissions. The Justice and Electoral Committee accepted submissions ...
The Domestic Violence—Victims' Protection Bill is open for a second round of submissions.
The Justice and Electoral Committee accepted submissions in March and April on Jan Logie's member's bill which would provide workplace protections for domestic violence victims.
The submissions closed on 28 April 2017. Green Party MP Jan Logie released a Supplementary Order Paper (SOP) suggesting further changes to the bill on 1 May 2017. The committee is now considering those changes and is inviting feedback.
The Justice and Electoral Committee summarised Jan Logie's proposed changes:
- "allowing an employee to request flexible arrangements at any time, regardless of how long they have been employed in that workplace
- letting them use an affidavit or statutory declaration as a ‘domestic violence document’ in support of their request for flexible working arrangements
- requiring an employer to deal with a request within five working days of receiving it
- allowing an employee to request urgent mediation if they believe their request has been unreasonably declined."
Read the bill and SOP online. This round of submissions is open until 19 May 2017.
See the the Parliamentary website for more information about the bill and current submissions, or to make a submission.
For background information about the legislation and workplace protections for domestic violence victims see the previous NZFVC story Submissions open on domestic violence workplace bill; new research on economic abuse.
International efforts to offer protections for victims in the workplace
The theme for the United Nations 61st Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) was women's economic empowerment in the changing world of work. A number of the agreed conclusions adopted at the 2017 annual session of the Commission addressed violence against women (see conclusions 12, 14, 40g, 40h, 40x, 40bb, 40gg and 40vv).
Alongside the CSW, the International Labour Organization (ILO) and UN Women held a panel discussion, titled Ending Violence against Women: Prevention and response in the world of work. UN News reported that UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka said "To prevent violence against women, institutions must take responsibility for addressing the issue at the macro-level by setting standards and putting in place preventive measures."
The ILO has published a new report by Dr Jane Pillinger on Violence and Harassment against Women and Men in the World of Work-Trade Union Perspective and Action (2017). The report addresses the impact of violence and harassment in the workplace and the risks for those in non-standard forms of work or at greater risk of discrimination and exploitation. It highlights the need for national and workplace measures to address violence and harassment at work through collective agreements and workplace policies.
Related media
Evidence backs domestic violence leave, MPs told, Radio NZ, 29.06.2017
Countdown latest to back Green's domestic violence bill, Stuff, 04.06.2017
Nurse's personal plea for domestic violence leave law change, NZ Herald, 02.06.2017
Peter Cullen: Law to protect domestic violence victims at work, Stuff, 03.05.2017
Vodafone offers family violence leave, Radio NZ, 27.04.2017
Vodafone's family violence policy 'may save lives', Newshub, 27.04.2017
I was a corporate high-flyer. My husband abused me for 10 years, Stuff, 07.04.2017
Image: Pixabay