Menstrual leave: Senate opposes stopping work if period is painful

It was a hope for many people. On Thursday 15 February the Senate examined a bill by the socialist senator Hélène Conway-Mouretto establish menstrual leave for women suffering from dysmenorrheaperiod pain.

This law provided for the creation of a work interruption specification that allows women to take two days off per month and a maximum of thirteen days per year. The text also provided for the elimination of the waiting period, guaranteeing compensation from the Social Security from day one, but also allowing employees to establish an adequate teleworking system.

Rejected with 206 votes in favor and 117 against

But the text was rejected with 206 votes in favor and 117 against in the Senate, dominated by the right. In question several fears on the part of the senators like it Béatrice Gosselinthat evokes ” unwanted side effects » of this bill, evoking the attack on “ the intimacy of the person » or its cost to Social Security.

Fears shared by Frederic Valletouxnew Minister delegated for Health, in particular on ” preservation of confidentiality ” It is on ” risks of discrimination in hiring », he told Agence France Presse.

For Hélène Conway-Mouret this law would prefer to allow it “remove this discrimination” : “All the bosses I was able to speak to tell me that, on the contrary, this suspension of work attracts women. »

Another bill presented to the National Assembly

At the end of the vote, Hélène Conway-Mouret welcomed the fact that a debate had taken place “he was able to bring a topic that had remained invisible into the public arena”. For her the account of her could have “ improve equal opportunities »pain related to ongoing periods “disabling” in the professional environment. “Women are penalized, they are invited to make their pain invisible”the senator deplores.

But the legislative battle is far from over. Several social and Nupes deputies presented another text to the National Assembly. “ Now it’s up to them to work so that it reaches the Senate »said Hélène Conway-Mouret.

In reality, menstrual leave is slowly becoming established in France, through companies and administrations that have already implemented it under certain conditions, like the municipality of Saint-Ouenor even more recently the department of Seine-Saint-Denis.

According to an Ifop survey, 66% of French women are in favor of the introduction of menstrual leave.

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