The legislation allows employees experiencing menstrual pains the right to receive the necessary amount of paid leave without an upper limit.
Petri Burtsoff,
Riikka Kajander
In Spain, a law was approved on Thursday, which allows the granting of paid sick leave to those suffering from severe menstrual pain.
Spain is the first country in Europe to promote legislation related to menstrual pain.
The law was approved by a vote of 185–154. Period leave is currently offered in only a few countries around the world, including Japan, Indonesia and Zambia.
– This is a historic day for feminist progress, Minister of Equality Irene Montero tweeted before the vote.
The legislation allows employees experiencing menstrual pain the right to the necessary amount of time off without a maximum amount.
During sick leave, you will receive compensation paid by the Spanish state.
A doctor’s certificate must be applied for sick leave, just like for other paid sick leaves for health reasons.
The law in Spain is justified by the fact that it reduces social taboos related to menstrual pain.
According to the Spanish Gynecological Association, one third of Spanish women suffer from severe menstrual pain.
– Women no longer have to go to work in pain, nor do they have to take painkillers before work and hide their pain, Montero said.
However, the law has divided Spanish society. CCOO, one of Spain’s largest trade unions, praised the reform.
UGT, another major trade union, again criticized the law and warned that it stigmatizes women and weakens the position of women in the labor market.
In connection with the same law reform, it was also decided to improve women’s opportunities for abortion in public hospitals.
Only 15 percent of abortions in Spain are performed in public hospitals because many doctors are deeply opposed to them in Catholic Spain.