Last year, a petition proposing to introduce two days off work per month for women who get their period gathered more than 4,500 signatures and was thus debated in the Chamber of Deputies. Although MPs did not accept the initiative, the matter was discussed once more by the respective commissions and elected officials in the Chamber.
Minister of Equality between Women and Men Taina Bofferding stated that it is important to break any remaining stigmas in relation to menstruation, but held on to her belief that no days off work should be awarded to women for that purpose. Similarly, she considers the option of remote work on those days unfair since not every woman can work from home.
Minister Bofferding further spoke about the implications of endometriosis, a disease of the female reproductive system that may cause chronic abdominal pain. She conveyed that discussions are currently held with the National Health Fund (CNS) to reimburse treatment of endometriosis in the future.
The issue of free sanitary items was also debated, with some MPs claiming that the government has to take responsibility instead of letting municipalities provide the offer. Sanitary dispensers have already been installed in some schools, where female students receive a token at the beginning of the year, which can then be used to get free sanitary items.
