Foto: BB.LV / Женщина
Starting from December 1, women living and working in Spain will gain a new labor right. Those suffering from severe health issues related to menopause will be able to apply for a separate sick leave and receive financial assistance starting from the second day, without the need for a minimum insurance record. The reform was approved by the government on October 20 and represents a new step in protecting women's health in the workplace. However, the mere fact that a woman is experiencing menopause will not be sufficient grounds for applying for such sick leave. A doctor will need to diagnose a pathology related to secondary menopausal disorder that temporarily prevents the individual from working. The government believes that this measure will draw attention to health issues that have long been overlooked in the labor sector. Minister of Inclusion, Social Security, and Migration Elma Saiz supported the reform at a press conference following the Cabinet meeting. "More than ten and a half million women are part of the social security system, and we are responding to situations that have remained invisible," she stated. Spain has already taken a step in this direction in 2023 when it approved sick leave for incapacity due to menstruation, which is considered one of the first such measures in Europe. Now, the new regulation extends this protection to specific pathologies related to menopause. ## ## Who will be able to apply for the new menopause sick leave? Severe hot flashes, sleep problems, fatigue, or difficulties concentrating can affect the daily lives of some women during menopause. In certain cases, these issues may also hinder their ability to work normally. However, not all symptoms will qualify for sick leave. To apply for it, the employee will have to undergo a medical assessment to determine whether she suffers from a debilitating pathology related to secondary menopausal disorder. The diagnosis must be registered using the appropriate medical code, and the employee must receive medical care within the public health system. ## ## How much will they receive during sick leave? The main difference from regular sick leave due to illness is when the benefit starts being paid. While sick leave for general illness typically begins payments from the fourth day, women who utilize the new type of sick leave will receive payments starting from the second day. For the first day, the salary will be paid by the company. From the next day, the employee will receive a benefit from the social security system amounting to 60% of the calculated base for the first 20 days and 75% from the 21st day onward. Additionally, another usual requirement for sick leave due to general illness is waived: the need for at least 180 days of insurance contributions over the previous five years. Women who meet the medical criteria will be able to receive this benefit regardless of how long they have been contributing. ## ## How to apply for menopause sick leave? The procedure will begin with a visit to a doctor. The employee must consult a specialist from the public health system and discuss the issues she is experiencing and how they affect her ability to work. If the doctor determines that there is a pathology related to secondary menopausal disorder that hinders the employee from fulfilling her work duties, he or she will be able to issue the corresponding sick leave certificate. As with other sick leaves, the employee does not need to submit a paper sick leave certificate to her company, as the information is transmitted electronically through the social security system. The new conditions will come into effect on December 1, 2026. ## ## What is happening in other European countries? In Germany, Italy, Greece, Portugal, and Turkey, there is no separate type of sick leave for menopause, according to data collected by Euronews. In Germany and Portugal, for example, women whose symptoms prevent them from working can consult a doctor and apply for regular sick leave due to illness. In both countries, menopause does not have separate regulation in labor legislation. There is no equivalent measure in Greece, Italy, or Turkey, where no special benefit is provided for debilitating pathologies associated with this stage of life. With this reform, Spain is expanding labor protection for women compared to the sick leave for menstruation that was approved in 2023. The measure also raises the question, which still lacks a separate answer in much of Europe, of how to adapt social protection systems to health issues that may arise during menopause.
