KUALA LUMPUR, May 13 – Women who suffer from severe period pain will be able to go on medical leave if a new law is passed, reports Euronews.
Women who suffer from period pain caused by cysts, fibroids, and endometriosis, among others, would be entitled to three days of leave.
The leave can be extended to five days for women who suffer disabling periods that cause severe cramps, nausea, dizziness and vomiting.
While Spain would become the first European country to enact legal entitlements for menstrual leave, a number of countries such as Japan, Taiwan, and South Korea already have similar laws in place.
As part of a wider reproductive health reform, Spanish law will also include changes to the country’s abortion laws, permitting 16- and 17-year-olds to terminate their pregnancies without parental consent.
Additionally, the draft law will also lower the value added tax (VAT) on feminine hygiene products in shops, and enable free distribution of such products in selected public locations such as schools, education centres, and prisons.
Public funding for hormonal contraceptives and the morning-after pill will also be made available.
The proposed law is part of a wider sexual health bill that is expected to be tabled before the Spanish Parliament next week.
