PETALING JAYA: The government has been urged to consider enacting a law that grants menstrual leave for women suffering from period pain or dysmenorrhea.
Parti Bangsa Malaysia (PBM) deputy president Haniza Mohamed Talha said menstrual health had been a topic which many policy makers were reluctant to deal with.
"This is especially so for those in Asia, including Malaysia. Menstrual health is an integral part of women's rights. Neglecting it is a disservice to half our population," she said in a statement today.
The Spanish Cabinet recently approved a draft law that grants workers the right to take paid sick leave due to severe menstrual pain.
If Parliament also approves the bill, Spain would become the first European country with such a law.
"Some women experience severe period pains, to the point where it causes headache, diarrhoea, dizziness, vomiting, pain down the legs or even fainting spells.
"It would be unfair to expect these patients to use up their annual medical leave (MC) quota for a condition that may recur monthly," said Haniza.
In Malaysia, she said the most recently published research on dysmenorrhea and working women came from YouGov in 2017, where 86 per cent of women polled said they had period pain.
Among those women who had period pain and had worked, 81 per cent said that it affected their ability to work.
"PBM, as a party that supports women empowerment, calls on the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development and the Human Resources Ministry to set up a taskforce to look into the matter urgently.
"We will also be writing to both Ministers to put forth our views," said Haniza.
She said menstrual leave is not something new.
Indonesian women who suffer from acute period pain can take up to two days a month of menstrual leave.
Other countries which have menstrual leave include South Korea, Japan and Taiwan.
"Women should not be discriminated against for their biological bodily functions. PBM will continue to stand for the rights of the fairer sex to ensure a more equitable society," she added.