The Labour Party claims those who need domestic abuse leave most are being failed by the government.

The new Work Life Balance Bill, which was passed this week, will see the introduction of a partial payment for those who take leave from work because of domestic violence.

But Labour says it's not worth the paper it's written on, unless victims receive the full rate of pay.

Speaking in the Seanad, Minister Roderic O'Gorman agreed victims should not be put at a financial disadvantage.

But Labour's spokesperson for workers' rights, Marie Sherlock, says he was unwilling to put that into legislation..