MANY women have painful periods, but only a handful of countries, mostly in Asia and most recently Spain, have moved to give them time off work to recover.

Here is a tour of some of them ahead of World Menstrual Hygiene Day tomorrow.

Spain

Spain is the first Western country to move to give menstrual leave, with a draft bill giving women unlimited leave for period pain, provided they have a doctor’s note, unveiled by the government on May 17.

The draft law has to be approved by Parliament, where the government is in a minority, before coming into force.

The proposal comes amid a campaign by feminists worldwide to demolish taboos around periods, but it drew criticism from Spanish unions, who warn that menstrual leave can prompt employers to prioritise men when hiring.

Indonesia

Indonesia passed a law giving women the right to two days of paid menstrual leave per month, without giving prior notice, in 2003.

But the provision is in practice discretionary.

Many employers allow only one day a month, while others give none at all, either because they are unaware of the law or choose to disregard it.

A 2003 International Labour Organisation report warned that a requirement to give women 24 days menstrual leave on top of their 12 days annual leave represents a “significant cost” for many employers, causing them to discriminate against women in their hiring policy.

Japan

In Japan, a law dating as far back as 1947 states that companies must agree to give women menstrual leave if they request it for as long as they need it.

It does not, however, require them to pay women during menstrual leave, but around 30% of Japanese companies offer full or partial pay, according to a 2020 Labour Ministry survey.

However, not many women take advantage of the law. The survey of around 6,000 companies found that just 0.9% of eligible workers had taken menstrual leave.

South Korea

In South Korea, women are entitled to one day of unpaid menstrual leave per month, with employers who refuse facing fines of up to five million won (RM17,000).

The leave used to be paid until 2004, when South Korea went from a six-day to a five-day work week.

A 2018 survey showed greater take-up than in Japan, with a little over 19% of women taking time off. But many said they choose not to because of conservative or unfavourable work environments.

Taiwan

In Taiwan, the Gender Equality in Employment Act gives women three days of menstrual leave per year, which are not deducted from the statutory 30 days of regular sick leave.

Women can take only one day in any given month.

Like sick leave, workers on menstrual leave receive only 50% of their salary.

Zambia

Zambia became the envy of other African countries when it passed a law allowing women to take a day off work during their period, without giving notice or supplying a doctor’s note, in 2015.

While the measure is generally accepted and supported, not all employers willingly complied with it on what is discreetly referred to as “Mother’s Day”.

But, encouraged by trade unions, women are starting to exercise their right, said communications expert and women’s rights advocate Ruth Kanyanga Kamwi.

Australia, India, France: companies lead the way

Some companies have not waited to be compelled by law to offer women menstrual leave.

They include the Victorian Women’s Trust, an Australian gender equality agency, which offers employees 12 days of menstrual and menopause leave; Indian food delivery start-up Zomato, which offers 10 days of period leave; and, French cooperative La Collective, which gives staff up to one day of period leave per month. – AFP, May 27, 2022.