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Tengrinews.kz - In some countries, the law provides women with leave during their menstrual cycle. In some cases, it’s paid, in others — unpaid. Recently, the Russian State Duma suggested that women in Russia might be allowed to work remotely during such days. Tengrinews.kz asked Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Labor what they think about the idea of “menstrual leave.”
Which countries have menstrual leave
In February 2023, Spain became the first country in Europe to introduce paid menstrual leave — 3 to 5 days per month for severe menstrual pain, with a doctor’s note. In the first 11 months alone, Spanish women used this leave more than 1,500 times.
The concept, however, is not new. Japan has had such a law since 1947, allowing women to take leave during severe discomfort — without a set number of days and without mandatory pay. Women can choose to use the benefit or not.
In Indonesia, women are entitled to two days of menstrual leave per month, which may be paid.
Since 1953, South Korea has given female employees one day of menstrual leave per month. If a woman doesn’t use it, she is entitled to extra pay.
Taiwan’s Act of Gender Equality in Employment allows three days of menstrual leave per year, taken at the start of menstruation.
In Vietnam, the law grants women a 30-minute break during their period. A 2020 reform added three days of menstrual leave per month.
Since 2015, Zambia has had a “Mother’s Day” policy — one day of menstrual leave per month. If an employer refuses, women can take legal action.
Recently, Tatiana Butskaya, First Deputy Chair of the Russian State Duma Committee on Family Protection, Issues of Fatherhood, Motherhood, and Childhood, suggested that Russian women might be allowed to work remotely during their period. However, this would not be mandatory — each company would decide for itself. The main condition is that productivity must not be affected.
What Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Labor says
The ministry noted that studying international experience — especially Spain’s practice — could be useful when assessing whether to adopt such measures in Kazakhstan.
“However, having a well-tested practice is one of the key conditions for introducing it into Kazakhstan’s labor legislation. Since there are currently no well-substantiated proposals or long-term international examples to amend our labor laws, introducing menstrual leave for female employees is not part of the ministry’s legislative plans,” the official response to Tengrinews.kz read.
Kazakhstan’s Labor Code does allow employers to set flexible or staggered schedules, change work start and end times, adjust shift lengths (up to 11 hours), and alter workdays — all by agreement with the employee, taking into account the specifics of the job and the worker’s needs.
Read also: Kazakh employees entitled to three days of social leave
