The government in Spain are working on a new proposed legislation that will allow women who suffer from painful periods to take three days menstrual leave a month.
The new law is expected to be approved as a part of a wider bill on reproductive health and abortion laws on Tuesday, May 17. It is likely to include at least three sick days leave each month for women who suffer from extreme period pains.
Additionally, this leave would be medically supervised and only possible with a doctors letter. Equally, it could be extended to five days for women with intense pain accompanied by symptoms such as nausea, dizziness and vomiting, according to El País.
Particularly, this new law would affect women who suffer from painful periods classed as dysmenorrhea. Including symptoms like severe abdominal pain, headaches, fever and diarrhea. Interestingly, studies have indicated that 60% to 90% of young women globally suffer from dysmenorrhea.
However, Spanish politicians warned that the draft is still being worked on. Consequently, it still needs approval. Currently, menstrual leave is implemented in a small number of countries for employees such as South Korea, Indonesia, Taiwan, Japan and Zambia.
Certainly, this menstrual leave legislation could be useful here in Singapore.