Paris suburb gives menstrual leave in first for France

The town of Saint-Ouen on the northern edge of Paris has become on Monday  the first French suburb to offer women menstrual leave if they suffer from period pain or endometriosis.

The municipality of Saint-Ouen will allow women working for the local authorities to take up to two days off each month under experiment.

The Socialist Party mayor of Saint-Ouen Karim Bouamrane said “of the 2,000 people who work for the municipality, 60 percent are women. While talking with these employees I realised that half of them were suffering in silence. It was a subject put aside, if not taboo.”

“Strong decisions had to be made to help them. I am proud that Saint-Ouen has blazed the trail nationally for concrete progress for women’s rights,” he added.

In Saint-Ouen, women will only need a medical report that confirms their condition for a two days off.

Bouamrane sent a letter to President Emmanuel Macron calling for the right to menstrual leave to be applied in the rest of France.

Spain was the first European country to approve granting menstrual leaves, and the leave is currently offered in a small number of countries such as Japan, Zambia, and Indonesia.

The menstrual leave helps women manage their symptoms and improve their mental and physical health. In addition to creating an inclusive and supportive workplace.