“Toyo or tino-toyo”. These words seemed to have been attached and became the trademark for women in the Philippines when they are having their red days, as they get easily annoyed (mood swing) even in the smallest of things. Oftentimes, menstrual period makes it hard for women to function during those days as they undergo severe pain because of dysmenorrhea.
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While there’s no law in the country permitting workers to file a leave due to this issue, Spain, being our former colonizer, is set to implement a three-day menstrual leave as part of a reform, the first one in the Western World.
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Aside from Zambia and Asian countries such as South Korea, Japan, and Indonesia, Spain will follow the footstep of these countries with the said measure which allow their workers to take a three-day leave due to severe period pain. This enactment will be approved by the Spanish government at its cabinet meeting on the 17th.
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According to Complex, the Spanish Gynecology and Obstetrics Society states about one-third of those who menstruate experience dysmenorrhea-extreme cramping that occurs before or during a period. Dysmenorrhea symptoms range from headaches and diarrhea to a fever and stomach pain.
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Furthermore, Spain’s Secretary of State Equality and Gender Violence Angela said to the Spanish newspaper El Periodico via Telegraph, if someone has an illness with such symptoms a temporary disability is granted, so the same should happen with menstruation-allowing a woman with a very painful period to stay at home.
It was also mentioned that the VAT from the sale prices of sanitary napkins and tampons will be removed, mandating schools to provide menstrual products to the students and give them for free to students in the “marginalized social circumstances”.
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That being said, let’s just hope that lawmakers in the Philippines will see through this aspect like what Scotland does and at least provide us with free menstrual products.
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Source: INQUIRER.net