One bill can hide another. In recent weeks, elected officials on the left have embarked on a one-upmanship around the idea of menstrual leave. The principle – reserving days not worked for the specific cause of periods that are too painful – was adopted in Spain last February, a first in Europe. And this decision is emulated in France.
Thus, in France, no less than three texts have recently been tabled. The first two come from the Socialists, one from the deputies and the other from the senators. The third was written by environmentalists and returned this Friday, May 26. What give breath to the proposal. But beware of refusing priority: in a press release, the socialist group immediately recalled that it had already made a proposal, and that it could serve as a starting point for discussions.
If the proposals multiply, it is because they do not all contain the same elements, and each group wants to be identified on the subject. The text of the environmental deputies, like that of the socialists, proposes 13 days off per year dedicated to periods that are too painful, fully reimbursed, on presentation of a medical certificate issued by an occupational doctor, a general practitioner or a midwife. These work stoppages could be renewed once a year, bringing the maximum duration to 26 days “for the most serious cases”, submit the ecologists. But the Socialists, however, want a limit of two days per month.
Each text therefore has its specificities: the Socialist deputies also propose a 5-day leave in the event of miscarriage, and intend to force companies to introduce “material measures” for menstrual health. Ecologists want to enshrine in labor law the prohibition of discrimination on the grounds of menstrual health, and require companies to organize “every three years” awareness-raising actions.
Law or spontaneous proposal from companies?
Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne spoke at the end of April of the possibility of “facilitating” the menstrual leave schemes granted by companies. The Carrefour group announced on April 19 in The Parisian that all its employees who suffered from endometriosis, one of the pathologies that can cause painful menstruation and affects 10% of women of childbearing age, would benefit from paid days off. Other companies like furniture maker Louis Design, or Critizr have made similar claims.
Spain’s decision to allow menstrual leave has also been emulated by communities. Recently, the PS mayor of the city of Saint-Ouen-sur-Seine, Karim Bouamrane, decided to grant menstrual leave to his agents: two paid days each month, or the possibility of teleworking to ease working conditions. Since then, around thirty elected representatives from the left of the inter-municipal grouping have asked that the measure be extended to all the municipalities in the territory.
If the left-wing groups could include their texts in their reserved days during the next ordinary session (end of 2023 or in 2024), they invite the presidential camp to support their actions. With the hope of having a bill examined during a “transpartisan” week, with several days of debate if necessary.
Seeking recognition in this area, feminist associations do not all agree on a specific leave, fearing that it will stigmatize. “The alternative that we propose would be to question the philosophy of the waiting period for all, men and women. If an employee was entitled to compensation from the first day, that would solve the problem”, explained in particular Violaine de Filippis -Abate, spokesperson for Osez le féminisme, on France Info on April 26. Anyway, the question is making its way.