Chinese province orders all companies to grant women ‘period leave’ for menstrual pain

• Women in Qinghai province are allowed to take one to two days of ‘period leave’
• New rules also protect female employees who had a miscarriage or an abortion
• Previously, workers can only apply for menstrual leave with a doctor’s certificate
• But net users remain skeptical whether such measure could be strictly enforced 

Female employees in the province of Qinghai in north China are now allowed to take leave for menstrual pain, state media announced today.

The amended regulation, as part of the government’s move to improve women’s rights in the workforce, grants workers who suffer from severe period pain one to two days off each month without the need to present a doctor’s note.

The new rules also protect employees who had abortions and miscarriages and those who were returning to work after maternity leave, according to the All-China Women’s Federation. 

Female employees in the province of Qinghai in north China are now allowed to take leave for menstrual pain, state media announced today (file photo)

Previously, workers can only apply for menstrual leave with a certificate from a legal medical institute or hospital, according to The Paper.

Now, employees who suffer a miscarriage in the first four months of pregnancy are entitled to to 15 to 30 days of paid leave to recuperate, also without the need to provide a doctor’s note. 

If a worker has an abortion or a miscarriage between four and seven months of pregnancy, she is entitled to 42 days of paid leave, the report said, adding that those who miscarry at seven months or later are given 90 days to recover. 

Menstrual leave has already been implemented in Shanxi, Hubei, Anhui and Ningxia in China, as well as other countries such as Japan, Indonesia and South Korea.  

The new rules also protect employees who had abortions and miscarriages and those who were returning to work after maternity leave, according to reports (file photo)

Qinhai (pictured above) is not the first province to offer menstrual leave. The policy has already been implemented in Shanxi, Hubei, Anhui and Ningxia in China, as well as other countries such as Japan, Indonesia and South Korea

However, the regulation received a mix reaction on Chinese social media. Many net users were skeptical that such measures could be strictly enforced. 

‘Women are already struggling to get hired even without the extra time off,’ one person said on Chinese microblogging site Weibo.

‘This just gives companies another excuse not to hire women!’ another comment read. 

‘Good luck to all women seeking employment,’ another user said. ‘From now on, you might have to put “never experiences period pain” on your resume to increase your chances.’

‘This is rather impractical. A lot of companies would still be asking proof if female employees use the entitlement,’ one user said. 

A group of female job-seekers chat in front of a billboard displaying recruitment leaflets at a market. The new regulation in Qinghai received a mix reaction on Chinese social media. Many net users were skeptical that such measures could be strictly enforced

According to previous research, one in 10 women suffer from menstrual cramps so severe that they could interfere with their daily activities. 

While gender discrimination in hiring is banned by Chinese labour laws, specific behaviors that have made news in recent years, including job advertisements rife with gender discrimination. 

A report published by Human Rights Watch last April found several postings that said ‘men only,’ ”men preferred,’ or ‘suitable for men.’ In other cases, the company preferred female applicants to be married with children. 

In February, a joint-notice released by several ministries banned companies from asking potential female candidates questions such as if they are married or have children.

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