China province mulling day off for women during menstruation

Legislators in China's Guangdong province are planning a legislation requiring employers to offer paid leaves to female employees who suffer from painful menstruation, the media reported on Friday.

The province's legislative affairs office posted a proposed regulation on labour protection for female employees and is soliciting public opinion until December 3, the China Daily reported.

Under the regulation, an employer would be required to give one-day paid leave to a female employee during her menstrual period if she has a medical certificate, valid within six months, showing that she is incapable of working because of serious pains.

As labour costs continue to rise, employers complain that the regulation, if approved, will impose a heavier burden on them.

"It shows concern for female employees. But it's more reasonable to make it a sick leave or a day off compensating for overtime work than to be a paid leave," said the chief executive of an e-commerce company based in Guangzhou city.

In 1993, the central government, the national trade union organisation and the national women's federation jointly created a regulation on health services for female employees requiring employers to permit leave of one or two days for those who suffer painful menstruation.

It would not violate the old regulation if an employer were to allow a sick leave with deduction in pay in such a situation, but the proposed regulation in Guangdong stipulates that it must be a fully paid leave, said a lawyer.