Spain to become first country in Europe to introduce paid menstrual leave for workers

Pro-abortion rights demonstration to mark International Safe Abortion Day, in Madrid
Women take part in a pro-abortion rights demonstration to mark International Safe Abortion Day, in Madrid
REUTERS
Daniel Keane17 May 2022

The Spanish government has approved a draft bill that would make the country the first in Europe to introduce paid menstrual leave for workers.

It comes as part of a series of proposals seeking to improve women’s rights, including an extension of abortion rights and scrapping the requirement for 16- and 17-year-olds to obtain parental consent before terminating a pregnancy.

The measures were debated in the Spanish parliament on Tuesday afternoon before being endorsed by ministers.

Spanish government spokeswoman Isabel Rodriguez said the proposals represented “a new step forward for women, a new step forward for democracy.”

Under the proposals, women would be given as much time off as they need when experiencing painful periods. The state’s social security system would pay for sick leave, rather than employers.

Women’s rights have been at the forefront of Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez’s legislative agenda since taking power in 2018. The Cabinet has 14 women and eight men in ministerial positions.

Spanish Equality Minister Irene Montero said if the proposals are approved by lawmakers, Spain will be the first European country to grant paid sick leave for period pains.

Government officials said the proposed law would target serious symptoms, such as diarrhoea, fever and bad headaches. It would not apply to those experiencing slight discomfort and will require sign-off from a doctor.

“The days of (women) going to work in pain are over,” Ms Montero said, adding that government institutions had to “discard taboos, stigmas and guilt regarding women's bodies.”

She expressed support for feminist movements fighting for abortion rights in the United States and Poland, as well as in Chile, Argentina and Colombia.

However, trade unions expressed fears that the measure could put off some employers from hiring women.

Cristina Antonanzas, deputy secretary of trade union UGT, said the move could impact “women’s access to the labour market”.

“I don’t know if it does us women a disservice,” she told Cadena SER radio station.

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