Northern Ireland plans 10 days’ paid Safe Leave for domestic abuse victims

Victims and survivors of domestic abuse in Northern Ireland are set to receive a new employment entitlement providing up to 10 days of paid Safe Leave each year under plans outlined by Economy Minister Caoimhe Archibald.

The proposed right would allow eligible employees and workers to take time away from work without losing pay while dealing with the consequences of domestic abuse.

The Department for the Economy intends to introduce the entitlement in April 2027, subject to the necessary legislative processes and Assembly scrutiny.

How the new paid Safe Leave entitlement would work

Publishing her department’s response to a public consultation, Minister Archibald confirmed six policy decisions shaping the proposed entitlement.

Eligible full-time and part-time employees and workers would receive 10 days of paid Safe Leave during each leave year.

The entitlement would be available from the first day of employment and would be paid at the individual’s normal rate of pay.

Leave could be taken flexibly, including in half-day periods, allowing those affected to attend appointments, seek support or make necessary arrangements.

The new entitlement would be separate from annual leave.

Workers would not need to disclose details of abuse

The Minister confirmed that notification requirements would be limited to help protect the privacy and dignity of those seeking support.

Workers would not be required to disclose the specific purpose for taking Safe Leave or provide details of the abuse they had experienced.

The proposed definition of domestic abuse would be broad, encompassing both individual incidents and patterns of abusive behaviour.

Dr Archibald said the entitlement was intended to provide practical assistance without creating additional barriers for victims and survivors.

“No one experiencing domestic abuse should ever have to choose between their safety and their financial security,” she said.

Paid leave would apply from first day of employment

The Minister said the policy had been designed to ensure eligible workers could access support regardless of whether they worked full-time or part-time.

The entitlement would be available from the first day of employment rather than requiring a qualifying period of service.

Dr Archibald said employers would also receive guidance on managing requests sensitively and protecting confidential personal information.

The department is developing the draft regulations alongside guidance prepared with its Domestic Abuse Safe Leave Working Group.

Paid Safe Leave expected to begin in April 2027

The public consultation closed in September 2024 and received 55 submissions.

The Department for the Economy has now published its policy response and is progressing work on the regulations required to introduce the entitlement.

Dr Archibald said she remained committed to having the regulations in place before the end of the current Assembly mandate, with Safe Leave intended to come into effect in April 2027.

The proposed right is not yet operational and remains subject to the required legislative and scrutiny processes.

The policy forms part of the Minister’s wider Good Jobs agenda, which aims to strengthen employment protections across Northern Ireland.

External link: Department for the Economy — Domestic Abuse Safe Leave consultation response

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