Spain has approved a law allowing women with painful periods to take paid menstrual leave from work. The new rule, titled the “Gender Equality Bill,” came into force on Thursday and reformed a 2010 law that guarantees women’s sexual and reproductive rights.
Spain became the first European country to adopt such a law
This development also made Spain the first European country to adopt such a law.
Under the new law, women will be able to stay home for a few hours during the work day or take sick leave if pain prevents them from working.
The length of leave depends on the severity of the menstrual pain and how long it lasts, according to The Cable.
In addition, the law allows 16- and 17-year-old girls to have abortions without parental consent and expands public funding for contraceptives.
Irene Montero, the minister for equality, said the law guarantees menstrual health as part of the country’s right to gender equality, adding that women’s health and bodies matter.
“Having time to take care of yourself is now important,” she added.
Montero said the government would cover the costs of the leave.
“From today you already have the right to leave work for painful menstruation, for the voluntary termination of pregnancy and for the last weeks of pregnancy that we approved with the new law on abortion, sexual and reproductive health and sexuality education
If you need to request any of these cancellations, just contact your doctor or GP as soon as possible.
Women’s health, bodies and time matter. Not. We still have to make the rule invisible, work with pills, die of pain pretending nothing is wrong,” the minister wrote on Twitter.
Globally, menstrual leave is currently offered in only a small number of countries, including Japan, Taiwan, Indonesia, South Korea and Zambia.
