On Wednesday, members of the Saeima’s Mandates, Ethics and Submissions Committee acknowledged that menstruation can cause significant discomfort and reduce women’s work capacity. However, they did not support the initiative to grant women two paid days off during menstruation.
Instead, the committee voted to instruct the Cabinet of Ministers to propose an action plan to address the issues outlined in the initiative. The government is expected to submit a response to the committee by December 1, after which further steps will be considered.
The author of the initiative, Marija Uškanova, attended the meeting and noted that both she and her friends have experienced painful menstruation. She emphasized that nearly 11,000 signatures collected on the petition platform manabalss.lv indicate how widespread the issue is among women in Latvia.
Uškanova urged the committee members to consider the issue from an empathetic perspective, adding that even if the initiative does not move forward in Saeima, the fact that it is finally being discussed openly marks an important first step toward a more understanding society.
Dace Kļaviņa, Parliamentary Secretary of the Ministry of Health, acknowledged that the issue is relevant for public debate but maintained that it should not be addressed through the allocation of additional paid leave.
She emphasized the need to improve women’s health literacy and awareness and noted that painful menstruation can be managed with medical help.
Kļaviņa also reminded the committee that current labor legislation allows for the use of sick leave in cases of health deterioration and that employers already have options to offer flexible work arrangements, including remote work. “We cannot provide legally mandated days off for every diagnosis,” she stated.
Medical experts invited to the meeting – including Dace Rezeberga, the Health Ministry’s chief specialist in gynecology and obstetrics, and Lāsma Līdaka, president of the Latvian Association of Gynecologists and Obstetricians – agreed that additional paid leave was not necessary, but emphasized the need for better public health education.
The initiative called for an amendment to the Labour Law to allow women up to two paid days off during menstruation. According to its author, this would improve women’s health, well-being, and work environment while reducing menstrual stigma and promoting fairer treatment in the labor market.
Health Minister Hosams Abu Meri (New Unity) previously commented that it might be time to have a broader discussion about the biological realities of the female cycle, in order to reduce taboos and stereotypes about menstruation. He noted, however, that women already have the possibility of taking sick leave or working remotely in cases of severe menstrual discomfort, provided there is an agreement with the employer.