The trade union movement welcomes the passing of groundbreaking employment rights at the NI Assembly today (24 March 2022).
The Domestic Abuse (Safe Leave) Bill brought forward by Rachel Woods MLA makes provision for up to 10 days paid leave for victims of domestic abuse and is the first such right across either UK or Ireland.
Speaking just after the Bill was passed by the Assembly, ICTU Equality Officer Clare Moore said
Trade unions have been shining a spotlight on this issue for many years. The impacts of domestic abuse and violence are not limited to the home, they spill over into all parts of society, including the workplace.
Having access to paid time off could literally be a life saver for many people who are experiencing or have experienced domestic abuse.
We are today very pleased that the Safe Leave Bill has passed into law and we also welcome the positive remarks from the Minister for the Economy that his Department stands ready to work with trade unions and employers to progress the drawing up of regulations as quickly as possible.
