Europe Gets Its First Country To Approve Paid ‘Menstrual Leave’

In a win for those who’ve experienced the inconvenience and pain of menstruation, Spanish lawmakers have officially adopted a new bill that will see special leave allocated for those suffering from painful periods. 

The legislation, which includes creating greater access to abortion in public hospitals, was passed by the lower house of the parliament on its first reading, with 190 deputies voting in favor, 154 against, and five abstaining. It will now move on to the Senate.

Irene Montero, Spain’s Ministry of Equality, told the Congress of Deputies the new law is “a legislature of feminist conquests,” and that menstruation should be recognized as part of the “right to health” in order to fight the stigma against women. 

At the moment, as per Euronews and AFP, the exact length of sick leave doctors will be able to grant to those with painful periods has yet to be specified. Though, when the bill is finally adopted, the country will be the first in Europe to integrate such a measure into its laws. 

Alongside the menstrual leave, the law will see that accessibility to abortion in public hospitals is increased. Minors aged 16 and 17 will also be allowed to undergo the procedure without parental consent, revising a measure put in place by a previous government in 2015. 

However, despite the step forward, there are those who aren’t too sure if the legislation will add or detract from women in the country. For example, one of the country’s two major unions, the UGT trade union, is concerned that employers may use this as a reason not to hire women.

Despite this worry, there are certainly many key benefits to the bill, which, in addition to menstrual leave and abortion access, will call for reinforcement of sex education, and the distribution of contraceptives and menstrual hygiene products in Spanish high schools. 

[via Euronews / AFP, cover image via Tatiana Neelova | Dreamstime.com]