Groups urge ministry to expand menstrual leave
By Hollie Younger / Staff writer, with CNA
Groups yesterday urged the Ministry of Education to allow students two days a month of menstrual leave, up from the one-day limit.
The one-day policy does not reflect “real bodily experiences,” the groups — including the Taiwan Engagement Association for Youth and the Student Alliance for Gender Equality — told a news conference titled: “Whose period lasts just one day?”
The ministry in 2014 recommended one day per month of menstrual leave, in line with the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, but the system needs better protections for students, association secretary-general Wang Chi-an (王齊安) said.
Student Alliance for Gender Equality proposal team convener Chen Chia-yi speaks at a news conference in Taipei yesterday.
Photo: CNA
The number of days allowed, how often leave can be taken and supplementary measures fall short of what students need, Wang said.
The average menstrual cycle varies between 21 and 35 days, and menstruation does not necessarily occur just once per month for shorter cycles, EdYouth Taiwan advocacy officer Wan Yi-fan (萬儀梵) said.
However, menstrual leave can only be taken once per month, meaning students risk poor attendance and grades, and might not be able to take make-up classes or exams, Wan said.
Surveys have showed that although the ministry has petitioned education providers to allow menstrual leave, many have yet to implement the guidelines, Student Alliance for Gender Equality proposal team convener Chen Chia-yi (陳佳儀) said.
Some institutions instead count extra menstrual leave as general sick leave, which requires supplemental documentation, while they do not allow students to take make-up classes or exams, Chen said.
Some students have even been reprimanded for requesting additional days, she said, adding that such policies are not in line with Article 15 of the Gender Equity Education Act (性別平等教育法).
The leave allowance should be increased to two days per month without requiring students to provide supplementary documentation, there should be no required interval between leave days and schools should be permitted to offer more days off, she said.
The ministry should also consider ensuring that education providers do not deduct attendance points or reduce grades over menstrual leave, she added.
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