For the first time in Egypt, a company has decided to give women one day of paid leave each month for their period.
Women aren’t required to provide medical proof of painful periods and it is an option for all women employees to choose which day of their period will be taken off. UK Campaigners welcomed the move and called for the government to introduce a similar measure there.
At first, employees were shocked because it is not so normal to talk freely about the issue in the Middle East and North Africa region. “But after understanding the policy gives all women the confidentiality to keep her menstrual days secret with our female HR representative, they were very happy. Women are not only dealing with their work performance but also with their humanity.” a spokesperson said.
The firm’s CEO, Mohamed Naiem, decided to introduce the policy after reading medical articles addressing the issues surrounding period pains and after noticing that many women’s organisations were calling for paid leave time when they are menstruating, the spokesperson said.
The move comes after a recent proposal by Egyptian female journalists who campaigned for women in the country to be granted menstrual leave. Some Egyptians have mocked the notion of menstrual leave but others hailed the company’s decision as progressive, respectful and enlightened.
Menstrual leave is currently recognised in countries such as Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Indonesia and Zambia. Some private Indian companies have also introduced such policies. In 2015, Zambia became the first African country to enshrine a woman’s right to menstrual leave in the law, giving them one day off a month when they are menstruating.
