Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1492490
3 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 12 FEBRUARY 2023 NEWS intense debate whether it helps or hinders women at the work- place. 'La licencia menstrual' was tabled by the Spanish left-wing government led by Prime Min- ister Pedro Sánchez on 17 May 2022. The Spanish Cabinet voted for Spain to be the first in Europe regulate menstru- al leave, with equality minis- ter Irene Montero calling it a "temporary disability" whose taboo had to be overcome. The law passed its first reading in December with 190 votes i fa- vour and 154 against. In the Soviet Union, the first menstrual leave law was passed in 1922 as part of Bolshe- vik policy directed at women in factories to protect "their motherhood even as workers". The law was abolished after the fall of the Soviet Union, with a new proposal brought up again in 2013. In 1947, Japan became the second nation to legalise men- strual leave, due to the lack of restrooms and toilets in gen- eral at the workplace. The law, still in place, asserts that an employer has no control over a woman's request for menstrua- tion leave. And without a med- ical certificate, employers must grant a woman menstrual leave either per hour, per half-day, or by a full day. A year later, Indonesia pro- vided women who work in mines or factories with two full days of leave each month as part of their industrial rights. The leave roved beneficial to blue-collar workers, but wom- en working in other sectors such as retail or finance did not benefit from this law out of fear of shame. A reform in 2003 watered down the legislation to a policy subject to negotiation between women and their em- ployer or union. South Korea adopted its men- strual leave law in 2001, grant- ing women one day of unpaid leave per month. Violating em- ployers face fines of up to 10 million won and up two years in prison. Korean men's rights critics ridiculed the law as "re- verse sexism" and said women should be ashamed of benefit- ing of the law when South Ko- rea's birth rate is low. Taiwan's first menstruation leave law in 2002 have wom- en up to 30 days of paid sick leave, resulting in three days a year for menstrual leave and the rest as regular sick days. An additional three days of unpaid leave were added in 2013. And in Zambia, menstrual leave was enshrined by law in 2017, allowing women one paid leave day each month without having to provide a certificate or a cause. This is commonly referred to as "Mother's day" – while applying to all women, even those without children. mcalleja@mediatoday.com.mt The woman in question spoke to MP Rosianne Cutajar, whose home constituency includes Qormi, after she read about Spain becoming the first country in Europe to legislate menstrual leave for women. Speaking for the 24-year-old in parliament, the former parliamentary secretary for civil rights insisted it was time Malta discussed menstrual leave