Victims of violence to get paid work leave

Saskatchewan employees to soon be given five paid and five unpaid days

REGINA— Saskatchewan will be offering paid leave to victims of domestic and sexual violence who require time off from work.

The government has introduced and passed legislation that it expects to take effect later this month.

The change means employees, who were previously entitled to take 10 unpaid days of leave, can take five paid days and five unpaid days off. They can use the leave to move, obtain support services, get medical help and attend court appearances.

“These are women that are working largely in low-income jobs. If they were working in higher income jobs, they would have the ability to leave,” Tina Beaudry-Mellor, the minister responsible for the Status of Women Office, said Monday.

“This makes a difference to women in those situations. And probably most importantly, it makes a difference to the children that are also in those situations.”

Justice Minister Don Morgan said he hopes the change means victims can get help without worrying about money.

The paid leave not only extends to employees who are themselves victims of domestic or sexual violence, but they can take it if their child or someone who is in their care is a victim.

He said some groups the government consulted with on the new measure wanted a more educational approach to dealing with domestic violence.

That’s important too, Morgan said. “But I don’t think that helps a victim or a person that’s going through that kind of a crisis.”

The Saskatchewan Coroners Service says that over the past14 years, 71 people have died in domestic homicides — more than half of them women.