Working Women to Benefit from Royal Commission

The recommendations to come out of Victoria’s Royal Commission into Family Violence will benefit working women, according to the body that represents the state’s trade unions.

Secretary of the Victorian Trades Hall Council (VTHC), Luke Hilakari, said the recommendations “would dramatically improve the financial and emotional security of thousands of Victorian women experiencing family violence”.

The VTHC singled out the recommendation that the National Employment Standards and Modern Awards as a minimum should be amended to include family violence leave clauses.

It also welcomed the Victorian Government’s commitment to adopt all 227 recommendations, including that as the state’s biggest employer, it should model best practice in relation to family violence leave entitlements and education on the issue in the workplace.

“For the first time, we have a Government recognising the pivotal role of the workplace in supporting gender equitable cultures and addressing family violence,” Hilakari said.

“It is absolutely vital that we now ensure workplaces take on that responsibility.”

Hilakari said Victorian union women had been world leaders in advocating for family violence leave provisions and welcomed the government’s support for the leave provisions principle, and their commitment to supporting family violence leave in the Fair Work Commission.

“This report recognises that family violence support services are under immense strain,” he said.

“To fix the system, we must value and support the people providing those services. They are on the front line, they must be supported.”

For more information on the potential impacts of the Royal Commission’s recommendations listen to the latest episode of Pro Bono Australia’s Not for Podcast, The Royal Commission – A View from the Inside.