Menstrual leave introduced; Pejović: When politics has a human face, it can change lives

The Parliament of Montenegro adopted amendments to the Law on Mandatory Health Insurance with 59 votes in favour, introducing the right to menstrual leave for women diagnosed with secondary dysmenorrhea.

The initiative was proposed by independent MP Jevrosima Pejović, who submitted it to Parliament symbolically on March 8, International Women’s Day.

Following the adoption of the proposal, Pejović thanked all members of Parliament who supported it, as well as the LGBT Forum Progress and activists Aleksandar Dragićević and Miloš Vuković, who, she said, „are part of every major political battle“.

- Some colleagues jokingly say that this is my law, but I have to say that this is not true. One person alone was not enough to pass this law. It required my female colleagues, who spoke with their male colleagues, and I want to thank them for that. Thank you to everyone who showed that politics, when it has a human face, can change lives. I hope for future cooperation in this area - Pejović said in Parliament today.

Parliament Speaker Andrija Mandić responded that Parliament had shown its human face.

- We cannot name laws after everyone, but since King Marko’s mother was named Jevrosima, let this law be called after Jevrosima Pejović - Mandić said.

Under the adopted amendments to the Law, insured women diagnosed with secondary dysmenorrhea are entitled to compensation for wages during temporary inability to work. Insured persons are granted the right to menstrual leave for up to two days per month, as a special category of temporary inability to work.

Temporary inability to work due to secondary dysmenorrhea must be determined by a specialist physician. Insured women are required to renew their medical certificate no later than December 31 of the current year and submit it to their employer by January 30 of the following year.

As Pejović previously stated in the explanation of the initiative, the amendments to the Law on Mandatory Health Insurance aim to properly regulate diagnosed cases of secondary dysmenorrhea, thereby eliminating all forms of workplace prejudice and establishing a balance between women’s health and professional obligations.

- Secondary dysmenorrhea refers to a condition accompanied by painful symptoms caused by previously diagnosed gynaecological pathology. A special category of temporary inability to work will include sick leave taken by women due to secondary dysmenorrhea associated with pathological conditions such as endometriosis, fibroids, ovarian inflammation, endometrial polyps, polycystic ovary syndrome, or symptoms such as dyspareunia, dysuria, infertility, or heavier-than-normal bleeding - Pejović explained.

Pejović stressed that introducing this measure also has broader social and public health significance, as regular gynaecological examinations, which are essential for exercising the rights provided by this law, enable the timely detection and treatment not only of secondary dysmenorrhea but also of other serious gynaecological conditions.

- Particularly concerning data indicate that cervical cancer remains one of the leading causes of illness and death among women in Montenegro, despite being a highly preventable disease. According to data from the Institute for Public Health, Montenegro ranks sixth in Europe in terms of mortality from this type of cancer. Insufficient awareness of the importance of regular examinations and low participation rates in screening programmes lead to late diagnosis. During 2023, a total of 93 newly diagnosed patients were presented to the Oncology Council of the Clinical Centre of Montenegro, with the disease detected at an inoperable stage in 61 percent of cases, significantly reducing the chances of successful treatment - the explanation accompanying the amendments stated.

Pejović also noted that the law could have an additional positive effect by encouraging more women to undergo regular gynaecological examinations, thereby not only improving the treatment of secondary dysmenorrhea but also increasing the likelihood of early detection of serious illnesses, including cervical cancer.