On Thursday, Spain passed a law allowing women with painful periods to take time off.
Spaniards suffering from severe pain due to their menstrual periods can take temporary sick leave, funded by social security, with the approval of a doctor.
Spain is not the first country in the world to pass such a law. For example, since 1947, Japan has granted Japanese women the right to menstrual leave, which is often unpaid but unlimited in time. In Indonesia, if pain occurs at the beginning of the menstrual cycle, a day or two of paid leave can be taken. It is also possible to take time off for this type of pain in other countries like South Korea and Zambia.
When are the Canadians shooting?
hidden reality
Getting your period can be very painful for many women. I know some who could hardly get out of bed when they had their periods. But for fear of losing their job or because they have already used up their sick leave, some of them act like nothing happened.
Would you be able to work effectively and feel your insides expanding and contracting?
For too long women have had to remain discreet about the ailments related to their reproductive organs.
It is not normal that many of them have to spend a large part of their sick leave on period-related pain, while their male counterparts do not have to deal with such problems.
It’s about time the Canadian government gave menstruating people a chance to get relief from their period pains without embarrassment.
Having a womb comes with some challenges and the job market needs to adapt to this reality.
