Thessaloniki gets ready for its metro launch in November
The underground rapid transit lines have been under construction for almost two decades due to various project delays
Irene Montero, the Spanish Minister of Equality, (with raised right hand), announcing the news, Source: Irene Montero on Twitter
The bill, however, still has to be approved by Parliament to become a law
Yesterday, 17 May, the Spanish Cabinet approved a draft legislation proposal which will clear the way for the country to become the first in Europe to allow leave from work due to painful menstruation. The overall Sexual Health bill also introduces changes to abortion rules making it easier for women to undergo that procedure with less bureaucracy involved.
Irene Montero, the Minister of Equality, defended the move by stating that would make Spain a pioneering country on the continent in terms of recognizing menstrual health as a right for women.
"We recognize the specificity of this situation that many women experience: women who suffer from painful periods, who went to work with pills and could not say at work because they were incapacitated. What we do is remove that stigma, remove that shame, to be able to normalize that in our society we talk about menstruation as something that is part of our health as women," she underlined, speaking to RTVE.
Asked about how women can take that leave, the minister explained that "it will depend on each case and how they experience that disabling pain". It seems that it will be requested from the family doctor and will not have a limit of days. They will be "special temporary incapacities" and it will not be necessary to have previous contribution days, meaning they can be requested from the first day at a job.
If the Spanish Parliament also approves the bill, the Iberian country would become the first European country with such a law. South Korea and Indonesia are among only a handful of countries around the world that allow paid menstrual leave.
The law would cost the Spanish government (not the employers) some 23.8 million euros per year. The legislation is part of a broader reproductive health reform that is set to also include changes to Spain's abortion laws. Among the latter is the removal of the 3-day reflection period, which was mandated when a woman opted for an abortion.
The underground rapid transit lines have been under construction for almost two decades due to various project delays
Now you can get your wine in Talence by paying directly in Bitcoin
That’s because the state has to spend money on updating the railway infrastructure rather than subsidizing the cost of the popular pass
Rethinking renewable energy sources for the urban landscape
The examples, compiled by Beyond Fossil Fuels, can inform and inspire communities and entrepreneurs that still feel trepidation at the prospect of energy transition
Now you can get your wine in Talence by paying directly in Bitcoin
The 10th European Conference on Sustainable Cities and Towns (ESCT) sets the stage for stronger cooperation between the EU, national and local level to fast track Europe's transition to climate neutrality.
At least, that’s the promise made by the mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo
The underground rapid transit lines have been under construction for almost two decades due to various project delays
At least, that’s the promise made by the mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo
Hostal de Pinós is located in the geographical centre of the autonomous region
Despite its church-y name, the district has long been known as the hangout spot for the artsy crowds
Urban dwellers across the EU are having a say in making their surroundings friendlier to people and the environment.
Forests in the EU can help green the European construction industry and bolster a continent-wide push for architectural improvements.
Apply by 10 November and do your part for the transformation of European public spaces
An interview with the Mayor of a Polish city that seeks to reinvent itself
An interview with the newly elected ICLEI President and Mayor of Malmö
A conversation with the Mayor of Lisbon about the spirit and dimensions of innovation present in the Portuguese capital