Women in Spain will gain a new workplace right from 1 December 2026. Those whose menopause-related health conditions leave them unable to work will be able to take paid sick leave, receiving benefit from the second day of absence without needing to meet a minimum social security contribution period.
The reform was approved by the Spanish government on 20 October. According to Euronews, menopause alone will not be enough to qualify. A doctor must first diagnose a condition linked to a secondary menopause-related disorder that temporarily prevents the woman from carrying out her work.
Government defends the reform
The Spanish government says the measure will help address health problems that for years did not receive the attention they needed in the workplace.
Spain’s Minister of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration, Elma Saiz, defended the reform at a press conference following the cabinet meeting.
“More than 10.5 million women are insured with Social Security, and we are responding to situations that until now remained invisible,” she said.
Who will be eligible
Severe hot flushes, sleep disturbances, fatigue and difficulty concentrating are among the symptoms that can affect some women’s daily lives during menopause. In some cases, they may prevent women from meeting their professional obligations.
However, symptoms will not automatically entitle a worker to sick leave. The process works as follows:
- The worker must undergo a medical assessment to determine whether she has a serious condition linked to a secondary menopause-related disorder
- If the doctor finds such a condition and concludes that it prevents her from carrying out her duties, they can issue a sick leave certificate
- As with other types of sick leave, the worker will not need to hand the form to her employer herself, as the details will be sent electronically through Social Security
How much women will receive
The key difference from standard sick leave for common illness is when payment begins. Under the current system, benefit starts on the fourth day of absence. Under the new leave for menopause-related conditions, it will start on the second day.
Payment will be structured as follows:
- Day one: the employer covers the worker’s pay
- Days two to 20: Social Security pays a benefit equal to 60% of the contribution base
- From day 21 onwards: the benefit rises to 75%
No minimum contribution period
The reform also removes another requirement that applies to sick leave for common illness: having paid social security contributions for at least 180 days in the previous five years.
This means women who meet the medical criteria will be able to receive the benefit regardless of how long they have been paying into Social Security.
Building on the 2023 menstrual leave law
Spain took a similar step in 2023, when it introduced paid sick leave for severely painful periods, a measure regarded at the time as pioneering in Europe. The new provisions extend that protection to specific conditions linked to menopause.
With information from LiFO and Euronews
