A piece in the Mirror. The start of it:
Employers would have to provide up to ten days leave for those suffering from domestic violence in radical proposals to help victims of abuse set out by Labour today.
Shadow Secretary of State for Women and Equalities, Dawn Butler, will announce the policy to help tackle what she’s called an “epidemic” as two women on average per week killed by a current or former partner.
Aside from the immeasurable human cost, domestic abuse costs businesses £1.9 billion every year due to decreased productivity, time off work, lost wages and sick pay.
Labour would also require employers to have a domestic abuse employment policy which includes providing up to 10 days paid lave for victims of domestic violence.
The policy is already in place in New Zealand while laws providing paid leave relating to domestic violence also exist in Australia at five days and in Canada at a provincial level, in Manitoba and Ontario.
“Employers have a duty of care to employees experiencing domestic abuse and should put in place a range of workplace policies to help victims,” Ms Butler will say in a speech to Labour Women’s Conference,“This crucial time will allow women to leave their abusive partners safely, get the help, protection and support they need, knowing their livelihood is secure.
“These 10 days could literally help save the lives of those women.”
Labour say they would create a separate department for Women and Equalities to “put equality centre stage” to end millions being “held back” by “stubborn inequalities”.
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