The Iberian nation is seriously weighing out the pros and cons of implementing paid menstrual leave in workplaces

A European first, Spain has approved plans to introduce a law that would allow women to take up to three days of paid menstrual leave a month, which is separate from paid sick leave. Some companies already offer menstrual leave, however, not under the law. If the proposed legislation is passed, Spain will be the first country in Europe to offer menstrual leave. Asian countries including South Korea, Taiwan, and Japan already have similar policies in place.

For anyone who’s ever had a period, periods are not just an inconvenience but are often packaged with a combo of the following symptoms: diarrhea, fever, headaches, fatigue, excruciating lower abdominal pain, and pain in other places such as the lower back and thighs.

According to a study done globally, 71% of women under 25 reported having period pain, also known as dysmenorrhoea. The research also shows that one in five women reported missing school or university due to period pain, and two in five said pain affected their concentration or performance in class.

In another study, 14% of respondents reported taking time off work or school during their periods, while 80% continued to work or study while feeling unwell, which resulted in less productivity. 

Spain’s recent proposal on menstrual leave is part of a broader package on reproductive rights that includes allowing teenagers to seek an abortion from the age of 16 without guardian approval. This comes at a time when countries like the U.S. are overturning laws that protect the right to abortion.

Isabel Rodríguez, Spanish government spokeswoman, said the country’s proposals represent “a new step forward for women, a new step forward for democracy.” An outspoken feminist, Spain’s equality minister, Irene Montero added that it is time for government institutions to “discard taboos, stigmas and guilt regarding women’s bodies, the days of women going to work in pain are over.”

Se acabó el tabú, el estigma, sufrir en silencio. Hoy somos el primer país de Europa que reconoce derechos de salud menstrual ????????#LeySaludSexual pic.twitter.com/beLyoBz2o9

— Irene Montero (@IreneMontero) May 17, 2022

Keep in mind that the period leave is not yet a done deal. Spain’s left-wing coalition government is reportedly divided over the plan. Some socialists believe this menstrual leave could backfire against women by discouraging employers from hiring them. Cristina Antoñanzas, deputy secretary of the UGT, a leading Spanish trade union, warned that the move could stigmatize women in the workplace. She mentioned occasions where women have been asked if they are going to be mothers in the recruitment process. “Will the next step be to ask us if we have period pains?”