New Zealand Urged to Tackle Workplace Violence Problem

A New Zealand trade union is calling on the government to provide more protection for victims of violence in the workplace amid the nation’s poor violence statistics.

Prior to the pandemic, New Zealand had the highest rate of domestic violence per capita in the developed world, and the second-highest rate of workplace bullying.

Now, the PSA is urging the government to ratify Convention 190 of the International Labour Organisation which sets out a framework under international law to protect people from violence in the workplace.

“We tend to think of violence as something that happens to women at home, behind closed doors, but workplaces are not always safe either,” said PSA National Secretary Erin Polaczuk.

“Too many New Zealanders face violence, harassment or intimidation at work, whether from abusive partners, clients or colleagues.”

Polaczuk said campaigning by anti-violence organisations and unions has led to significant progress, such as the passing of the Domestic Violence Victims’ Protection Act.

“Winning ten days paid leave for survivors of domestic violence is an incredible achievement, but women are not confined to the home any more and our workplaces must also be made as safe as possible.”

The PSA said the ILO Convention 190 commits countries who ratify it to implementing concrete, workable policies that keep people safe and save lives, and also supports cooperation between government, employers and unions.

2016 PSA research, in collaboration with Victoria University, found 43 per cent of public servants had experienced bullying at work and a third had experienced discrimination.

According to WorkSafe, between one in five and one in three New Zealanders report bullying or harassment at work every year.