Spain Looking At Monthly Paid Menstrual Leave

The Spanish government is considering a program to provide monthly paid leave from work for women with painful menstruation. Other countries that have already implemented similar policies include  Japan, Taiwan, Indonesia, South Korea and Zambia. 

According to the law office of Christopher Q. Davis:   

Since 1953, women in South Korea have been permitted to take one day off a month due to painful menstruation. Between 2014 and 2015, Former CEO of Asiana Airlines, Kim Soo-cheon, received over 138 employee requests for a day off due to painful menstruation. The former CEO said that he began to get suspicious when large amounts of employees attempted to take off for painful menstruation near the holidays. Kim Soo-cheon asked the women to provide proof of painful menstruation. The South Korean court found that providing this proof infringed upon the individual’s privacy and human rights. The court recently fined the former CEO over $1,800. Other countries that provide menstrual leave are Japan, Indonesia, Taiwan, and Zambia. 

The menstrual leave issue brings up some interesting questions. For instance, the veracity of the person involved. Employees, both male and female, are well-known to make false claims to get time off, funerals, weddings, sickness, care for sick relatives, etc. Does menstrual leave open one more avenue for absence? Furthermore, does a woman with menstrual pain that goes to work jeopardize facets of the employer's business, efficiency and relations with customers and suppliers. Perhaps women suffering from menstrual cramps should not be allowed to work. Many women engage in physical labor in the workplace. Does menstrual pain inhibit their ability to lift, push and carry? In the world of gender equality will men be able to demand similar time off, perhaps in order to care for a mate or relative suffering from menstrual pain, receive paid leave similar to maternity leave? 

Ultimately, one day per month of paid leave from work means that each woman on the payroll will receive an additional two weeks and two days of paid vacation annually.