Human Rights Commission calls for menstruation leave to be treated separately from sick leave

The Fiji Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Commission wants menstruation leave to be treated separately from sick leave.

This was highlighted during its submission to the Parliamentary Standing Committee regarding the Employment Relations Bill.

Human Rights Commissioner, Alefina Vuki stresses that menstruation is a biological process, not a sickness, and merging it with general sick leave undermines the dignity of women in the workplace.

She says that while some women experience severe symptoms that can affect their ability to work, this should be acknowledged through a distinct leave category, highlighting Fiji’s obligations under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, which supports women's rights to health and non-discrimination.

She explains that menstruation leave should be granted based on a medical certificate approved by qualified doctors to prevent misuse, adding that it must remain separate from standard sick leave entitlements.

Vuki further emphasizes the need to strike a balance between productivity and fairness, urging the consideration of a mechanism to prevent the abuse of medical certificates, similar to systems already used by some state agencies.

While discussing the practical implementation, Vuki acknowledges the complexity of the issue, especially in the context of a developing economy working to increase women’s participation in the formal workforce.