What
is menstruation leave and in which countries women can avail them?
Spain
has proposed new legislation that would allow women to take several days off
each month for "menstrual leave." If the bill passes, Spain will be
the first Western country to enact such legislation for menstruation women.
According
to Euro-News, the Spanish government is set to approve the provision as part of
a larger draught bill on reproductive health and abortion rights, and the
details will be announced on Tuesday, according to national media.
According
to the daily El Pais, the proposed rule would give women suffering from severe
period symptoms at least three sick days every month.
What
is menstrual leave?
The
implementation of menstruation leave for women in the workplace has long been
disputed around the world.
It
is a sort of leave in which women may be able to take a paid or unpaid absence
from work while they are menstruating.
Because
the menstrual period can bring extreme discomfort, pain, emotional problems,
and other health concerns, having such a tool at their disposal helps women to
stay at home rather than go to work.
Menstrual
leave is commonly associated with women's work productivity and workplace
sexism, much as the topic of menstruation has remained taboo in numerous
third-world nations.
Where
do countries stand on menstrual leave?
Some
Southeast Asian countries, such as Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan,
allow women to take menstrual leaves.
Women
in Indonesia are entitled to two days of menstruation leave per month, however,
they are not additional days off.
The
law has been in place in Japan for more than 70 years. Article 68 of the Labour
Standards Law, which was approved in 1947, provides that if a woman has sought
leave because working during her period would be particularly onerous, the
employer must not employ her on those days.
Despite
the fact that the law requires employers to allow women to take leave, it does
not force businesses to provide paid time off or extra compensation for women
who choose to work during their period.
If
female employees in South Korea do not take their menstrual break, they are
guaranteed additional compensation.
However,
the benefit is not widely used. Only 0.9 per cent of female employees in Japan
sought a period leave, according to a 2017 government poll.
Usage
is likewise declining in South Korea. According to a survey conducted in 2013,
23.6 per cent of South Korean women took use of the leave. By 2017, the figure
has dropped to 19.7%.
The
Act of Gender Equality in Employment in Taiwan provides women with three days
of "menstrual leave" per year, which is not counted toward the 30
days of "common sick leave."
Zambia
has menstrual leave legislation, which is known as "Mother's Day,"
and women are constitutionally entitled to take a day off each month. If the
woman employee is denied leave, she has the right to sue her company.
Menstrual
leave in India
In
India, there is no legal framework according to which women can take menstrual
leave. However, several private organizations, such as Byju's, Zomato, and
Culture Magazine, provide this benefit to their female employees.
Bihar
is the only state in the country with government-approved period leaves. In
January 1992, a state government order mandated that all female employees
receive two consecutive days of paid leave each month, in addition to their
regular vacation days.
The
Menstruation Benefits Bill, 2017 was introduced in Parliament by MP Ninong
Ering of Arunachal Pradesh in 2017.
Women
employed by both public and private establishments registered with the Central
and/or state governments would have been entitled to two days of menstrual
leave each month, for a total of 24 days of leave per year, according to the
Bill.