French suburb introduces paid menstrual leave for employees.

The town of Saint-Ouen, north of Paris, has become the first French municipality to grant paid medical leave to female staff suffering from period pain, allowing up to two days off each month without loss of salary. The move aims to break the taboo on the subject and inspire similar moves at the national level. The new rules will allow women to choose between taking time off or working from home. Feminist groups have long campaigned for greater support for women’s health at work, though the subject of paid menstrual leave has proved divisive amid concern it could hinder women’s access to the labour market.