Europe 1 with AFP // Photo credit: Xose Bouzas / Hans Lucas / Hans Lucas via AFP 5:28 p.m., February 15, 2024
The socialist group in the Senate failed to pass a text establishing in companies a work stoppage for women in the event of painful periods, in the face of fears from the right and the government fearing the "unwanted side effects" of this "leave menstrual". Despite lively debates and several attempts at compromise in public session, the text was rejected by 206 votes to 117 in the upper house, dominated by the right and its centrist allies.
“We have lost the opportunity not to be ahead, but to support the evolution of society. It is regrettable for the Senate and for women who will still have to wait,” regretted Senator Laurence Rossignol. The socialist senators proposed specific sick leave for cases of dysmenorrhea (menstrual pain), including endometriosis: the leave would be for a maximum of two days per month, without a waiting period, with a medical certificate valid for a year.
While Spain, on a national scale, as well as several French communities or companies have already launched a similar system, the initiative aimed to "support and supervise a movement launched with courage in the public and private sectors", argued Hélène Conway-Mouret, author of the bill. The Minister of Health, Frédéric Valletoux, showed himself open to discussion to "continue to break taboos", but he opposed this generalization which "turns its back on social dialogue", evoking in particular the "risk discrimination in hiring.
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The related senator from Les Républicains, Béatrice Gosselin, feared “unwanted side effects”, citing in particular the attack on “the privacy of the person” or even its cost for Social Security. Several elected officials, particularly centrists, managed to get some compromise amendments adopted, for example reducing menstrual cessation to one day per month or limiting it to cases of “symptomatic endometriosis”.
But the proposal was ultimately rejected using a public ballot requested by LR, allowing absent senators to vote despite the minority presence of the right in the chamber. A method denounced by the president of the socialist group, Patrick Kanner.