Finally some monthly relief? Chinese province weighs paid leave for women who suffer heavy pain during their cycle
A draft law requiring companies to give female employees time off without docking their pay will go before the Guangdong legislature next month, but some say bosses will become reluctant to hire 'troublesome' staff
Guangdong province is stepping up protection of its women workers with a legislative overhaul – including giving them paid days off when they suffer severe pain during menstruation, Chinese media reports.
But some women in the workforce doubt the legal protection will make a difference. Some say bosses will discriminate against those employees who are “troublesome”.
The new provisions have been published online in a public consultation that runs until December 3. The package then heads to the legislature for a vote, according to the New Express.
If passed, a woman will have to obtain a medical certificate attesting to her condition to qualify for the paid leave. But she won’t need to get the document every month – it will be valid for half a year.
The new step goes beyond a measure adopted in 1989, which banned companies from asking woman workers to do heavy physical labour or perform tasks in extreme weather while they were on their periods.
Guangdong is not the first Chinese province to take the step. Shanxi introduced a law last month that grants at least one day’s paid leave to workers who suffer from bad menstruation pain.