the Senate rules out the implementation of a menstrual work stoppage

“It’s regrettable for the Senate and for the women who will still have to wait,” reacted PS senator Laurence Rossignol.

The socialist group in the Senate failed to pass a text establishing a work stoppage in companies for women in the event of painful periods. The right and the government feared the “unwanted side effects” of this “menstrual leave”. Despite lively debates and several attempts at compromise in public session, the text was rejected, Thursday, February 15, by 206 votes to 117 in the upper house, dominated by the right and its centrist allies.

“We have lost the opportunity not to be ahead, but to support the evolution of society. It is regrettable for the Senate and for women who will still have to wait”, regretted Senator Laurence Rossignol. The socialist senators proposed specific sick leave for cases of dysmenorrhea (menstrual pain), including endometriosis: the leave would be for a maximum of two days per month, without a waiting period, with a medical certificate valid for a year.

“Continue to break taboos”

While Spain, on a national scale, as well as several French communities or companies have already launched a similar system, the initiative aimed to “support and supervise a movement launched with courage in the public and private sectors”, argued Hélène Conway-Mouret, author of the bill. The Minister of Health, Frédéric Valletoux, was open to discussion to “continue to break taboos”but he opposed this generalization which “turns our back on social dialogue”evoking in particular the “risk of discrimination in hiring”.

Béatrice Gosselin, senator related to Les Républicains, said she feared “unwanted side effectsevoking in particular the attack on “privacy of the person” or its cost for Social Security. Several elected officials, notably centrists, managed to have some compromise amendments adopted, for example reducing menstrual cessation to one day per month or limiting it to cases “symptomatic endometriosis”.

But the proposal was ultimately rejected using a public ballot requested by LR, allowing absent senators to vote despite the minority presence of the right in the chamber.