Australian workers should be able to take specific paid leave for domestic violence, unions have demanded. ACTU president Ged Kearney is calling on the federal government to increase protection for domestic violence victims, saying the abuse is not a private issue and must also be addressed in the workplace.
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In a submission to a Senate inquiry into domestic violence, the ACTU says that while more than 1.5 million employees have access to paid domestic violence leave, the provision needs to be extended to all workers with inclusion in national employment standards or in all modern awards. Ms Kearney said the ''last thing'' domestic violence victims needed was to lose their income during an already ''terrible situation''.
Along with paid leave of up to about 20 days, unions are calling for the right to request additional carer's leave - to look after distressed children, for example - and for the enforcement of rights to flexible work arrangements. The Senate inquiry is due to report back in late October.
