Spain becomes the first European country to give paid leave for menstrual pain

According to the Euronews news; With a new regulation on working life, Spain became the first European country to give its employees who suffered from menstrual pain the right to enjoy up to three days of paid vacation. It was also indicated that the three-day period could be extended to five days if the doctor deems it appropriate. In order for the permit to be used, a patient document must be obtained from the doctor.

Leave costs will be covered by the state’s social security system, not by the employer. According to the Spanish Society of Gynecology and Obstetrics, about a third of menstruating women experience severe pain.

With legal regulation, menstrual products; In schools and prisons, hormonal birth control pills and morning after pills will be available free of charge at government health centers.

The regulation on menstrual leave also raises some concerns. UGT, one of the largest unions in Spain, points out that menstrual leaves can stigmatize women in the workplace and companies may prefer to hire more men. The main conservative opposition party, the Popular Party (PP), shares similar concerns with the union.