The Gabriela Women's party-list has filed a measure seeking to grant female employees in both private and public sectors a two-day leave per month.

House Bill No. 7758 or the proposed Menstrual Leave Act was filed by Gabriela Rep. Arlene Brosas on Wednesday.

According to Brosas, studies have shown that women suffer from menstruation-related symptoms (MRS) like primary dysmenorrhea or painful menstruation, but this is often “poorly treated and ignored by health professionals, pain researchers, and even women themselves, who may accept it as a normal part of menstruation.”

She said a BMJ survey showed that MRS causes a considerable burden on women and their families due to the over-the-counter medicine, as well as significant loss of productivity at work.

“Women workers would rather go to work despite being in pain than have their wages deducted due to absences,” Brosas pointed out.

The Gabriela lawmaker cited that the local government units of La Union and Tanglan town in Aklan province have already passed orders that allow female employees to take a menstruation day privilege to work from home for two days.

“There is a need to provide women with the flexibility and support they need to manage their reproductive health without the fear of negative consequences such as losing pay, falling behind in work, or facing disciplinary action,” she further underlined.