As Italy debates a bill to grant women up to three days paid leave in a month during their menstrual cycle, we ask you what you think.
Pre-menstrual and menstrual cramps are, at best, discomforting and, at worst, debilitating.
Women who suffer from painful periods pop a painkiller and continue with their work day.
Besides, there are the trips to the washroom to change the sanitary napkin and the constant back-of-the-mind worry that one's clothes may get accidentally stained.
Some women do take the first day off. But how often can you keep taking sick leave because you have your periods?
Will any Indian company grant you a day off every month because you have a bad period?
The Japanese were the first to introduce menstrual leave for working women in 1947.
Indonesia allows menstruating women to take two work days off every month.
Companies in South Korea allot up to 33 health-related leaves for women, which includes three days of menstrual leave.
In 2007, sportswear brand Nike introduced menstrual leave for its workers worldwide.
Now, Italy has proposed a bill to grant women up to three days paid leave in a month during their menstrual cycle. The bill confronts a lot of criticism.
Some fear that once the bill is passed, companies may prefer hiring more male candidates; others feel the passing of the bill will make women seem more vulnerable and 'reinforce stereotypes about their emotional and hormonal conditions on 'those days'.
Dear readers, do you think a similar bill should be passed in India?
Will it be a progressive move?
Or will it reinforce gender stereotypes?
Share your views and experiences in the message board below.
Kindly note that the lead image has been published only for representational purposes. Photograph: Lucas Jackson/Reuters
