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Women in Spain To Be Offered Three Days of Menstrual Leave Every Month

The Spanish government is set to offer 3 days of menstrual leave to their female employees…

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The landmark change will also be accompanied by new feminine hygiene laws to help lessen the effects of hygiene poverty, such as removing VAT from period products.

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This new workplace law is set to be passed next week, and as a result, Spain will become the first country in Europe to offer this support to women.

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The new move was announced back in March by Ángela Rodríguez, who is Spain’s Secretary of State for equality. Her aim is to ensure all women are given proper menstrual health resources.

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She told El Periodico: “The rights related to menstrual health have never been discussed and the data is chilling.

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“One in four women cannot choose the feminine hygiene products she wants to buy for financial reasons. That is why we propose that they can be dispensed free of charge in educational and social centers.

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“It is important to clarify what a painful period is, we are not talking about a slight discomfort, but about serious symptoms such as diarrhea, severe headaches, fever.”

Ángela Rodríguez added: “Symptoms that when there is a disease that entails them, a temporary disability is granted, therefore the same should happen with menstruation and that there is the possibility that if a woman has a very painful period, she can stay home.”

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This comes as well as an announcement that all sanitary products will now be tax-free, and women in “marginalized social circumstances” will be able to receive free menstrual pads and tampons.

The new initiative has been met with praise online by women all over the world, with many taking to social media to express their hopes more western countries take the move on board.

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One Facebook user wrote: “As someone with PCOS, endometriosis, and pelvic congestion, can we bring this to the UK??”

Another added: “This really is helpful for them and I hope other areas follow suit, I get migraines and sickness without fail every month since very young and it causes havoc with jobs and attendance.”

What do you think?