The ACTU welcomes Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations Tony Burke's commitment that enshrining paid Family and Domestic Violence Leave in the National Employment Standards will be his first legislative priority.
This will ensure that the vast majority of working people have access to this new entitlement, a significant step towards supporting people escaping abusive relationships and saving lives.
A tireless campaign by the union movement and activists won the inclusion of 10 days of paid family and domestic violence leave into modern awards in May of this year.
The inclusion into the National Employment Standards (NES) will guarantee this support is extended to all workers.
Quotes attributable to ACTU Secretary Sally McManus:
"Including paid Family and Domestic Violence Leave in the NES is an historic reform and will help support people - nearly always women and children - escape abusive relationships. It will literally save lives.
"Unions have campaigned tirelessly for paid domestic and family violence leave for over a decade which will give some economic security to people leaving volatile and dangerous domestic situations and build supportive workplaces.
"The union movement welcomes the commitment from Minister Tony Burke and the Albanese Government."
