Unions Tasmania says a reluctance to disclose family violence means that some workers are not accessing a domestic violence leave entitlement.
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The federal government in July announced that it would amend the Fair Work Act to include up to 10 days family or domestic violence leave.
Unions Tasmania secretary Jessica Munday last month submitted to an inquiry on the amendment that family violence leave of between 10 and 20 days was available to state and federal public sector workers, some local government workers, and many workplaces in the private and not-for-profit sectors.
"Sadly, reluctance to disclose family or domestic violence means that some workers are not accessing the leave entitlement," she said.
"Ensuring paid family and domestic leave is a normal employment entitlement helps break down this stigma.
"Workers tell us that where this leave is being accessed, approvals are easy because the workplace is supportive and it saves lives."
Despite this, Ms Munday said too many workers did not have access to paid family and domestic violence leave which meant they had less capacity to survive violence.
She said the government's amendment bill made access to 10 days of paid leave a national standard entitlement and Unions Tasmania supported universal access to this as a minimum standard.
Further amendments to the Fair Work Act were raised on the frst day of the Jobs and Skills Summit in Canberra on Thursday, including a provision of unpaid parental leave to better support working couples with children.
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