Italy may soon give working women paid 'menstrual leaves'

Italy might soon give working women paid menstrual leaves. However it is expected to be limited to women who suffer from excruciating pain during periods every month.

Currently, the lower house of Italy's Parliament has started discussing a draft law that if approved, will mandate companiesto givethree paid days off every month as part of “menstrual leave policy”. If the motion goes through, Italy will become the first Western country toofferpaid days for painful periods. It is an existing law in Japan and Indonesia where working women are allowed time off during painful days every month.

Health experts and local media outlets havepraised the proposal, calling ita step in the right direction which would shed light on the silent plight of women suffering from debilitating cramps that can sometimes affect their ability to work.

But it seems like that thebill hascritics, even among the working women it seeks to protect.

Add WION as a Preferred Source

Some fear that the law might backfire and wouldpenalisewomen in a country where they are already struggling to participate in the workforce. Lorenza Pleuteri inDonna Moderna, a women's magazinesaid, "If women were granted extra days of paid leave, employers could become even more oriented to hire men rather than women.”

As reported in The Washington Post, Italy has female-friendly labour laws on paper. Five months of paid maternity leave are mandatory both for employers andemployees, meaning that companies must grant the leave and women, with few exceptions, cannot renounce it. During this period, a new mother receives 80 per cent of her salary, paid by INPS, Italy's version of Social Security. After that, parents of both genders have the right to take six extra months of parental leave, which is optional and paid at 30 per cent of their salaries.

This law may have an unfortunate unintended consequence that forceswomento decide what hurts more, the workplace implications of this legislation, or their period.

(WION)