Jakarta, ThedailyID — Spain will introduce special sick leave for women experiencing severe health problems related to menopause starting December 1, 2026. The policy recognizes that hormonal changes during menopause can cause symptoms that interfere with daily activities and make it difficult for some women to continue working.
Under the new rules, women who meet the medical requirements can take sick leave and receive benefits through the country’s social security system. They will also qualify without having to meet a minimum contribution period.
Spain’s Minister of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration, Elma Saiz, said the government introduced the measure to address women’s health conditions that have long received insufficient attention.
“More than 10.5 million women are registered in the Social Security system, and we are responding to a situation that has remained invisible,” Saiz said during a press conference following a Cabinet meeting, as quoted by Euronews.
How Much Will Women Receive During Menopause Leave?
One key difference between menopause-related sick leave and ordinary sick leave concerns when benefit payments begin.
Under Spain’s general sick leave system, workers usually receive benefits starting on the fourth day of absence. However, women taking leave because of severe menopause-related conditions will receive social security benefits from the second day.
On the first day, employers remain responsible for paying the worker’s wages. Starting on the second day, the social security system will provide 60% of the regulatory benefit base for the first 20 days.
From the 21st day onward, the benefit will increase to 75% of that calculation base.
How Spain Compares With Other European Countries
Spain’s policy marks a different approach from several other European countries. In Germany and Portugal, women whose menopause symptoms prevent them from working can consult doctors and apply for ordinary sick leave. However, neither country provides a separate sick leave scheme specifically for menopause.
Similarly, Italy, Greece, and Turkey do not currently offer dedicated benefits or special leave arrangements for women experiencing severe menopause-related health problems.
Meanwhile, Spain had already introduced another measure to support women’s reproductive health. In 2023, the country approved paid sick leave for women experiencing severe menstrual symptoms that interfere with their daily activities.
With its latest policy, Spain is expanding workplace protection for women by recognizing the impact that severe menopause symptoms can have on their ability to work.
