90% of women who menstruate experience symptoms, one of the most prominent ones being pain. This pain can be so debilitating that 32-40% report having to miss work or school. This can lead to repercussions from schools and employers alike. However, some countries have decided that women shouldn’t have to hide their symptoms in the workplace and continue to suffer in silence. The most recent country to decide this is Spain. On the 16th of February 2023, Spain passed a bill that will allow women three to five days of paid leave in case of any period- related pain.
Menstrual leave is not a new concept. Other countries, including Japan, Indonesia, South Korea, Taiwan and Zambia have already implemented similar policies, and some- like in Japan’s case- are decades old. However, what makes this particular bill so significant is that Spain is the first European country to do so. Additionally, Spain’s policy provides more leeway as compared to countries like Zambia, where women can only take one day off each month and Taiwan, where women can take up to three days off each year. This shows a turn in the tide of women’s rights, one that other countries will hopefully soon follow.
And countries, as well as companies, are following. For instance, Italy has started the discussion of including a nation-wide menstrual leave policy, and various companies including Zomato, Byju’s and Nuvento have introduced guidelines.
That said, a positive response is not the only one the bill is receiving. It may have been popular in the Spanish Parliament, with 154 out of 185 members voting in favour of it, but some critics have begun to argue that the new policy is just reinforcing negative stereotypes of women instead of making things more equitable. This includes ones of women being “weaker” or “unable to keep up with the demands of the workplace”, which has the potential to make workplaces reluctant to hire women.
However, the spearhead for the bill, Spain’s Equality Minister Irene Montero, called the day of it’s introduction “a historic day of progress in feminists rights”, and she was undoubtedly correct. There may be some negative consequences, but the bill is helping normalize menstruation and all the unfortunate side-effects that come along with it, creating a more supportive and inclusive workplace culture and showing that women’s health truly matters.
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