Montenegro has approved a new policy granting eligible women up to two days of paid menstrual leave every month, becoming the first country in the Balkans to introduce such a measure.
The amendment to the Health Insurance Law was approved by parliament in late July and applies specifically to women diagnosed with secondary dysmenorrhea, a condition involving severe menstrual pain linked to underlying gynaecological conditions. These include endometriosis, uterine fibroids, endometrial polyps, ovarian inflammation and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
The leave must be supported by a medical specialist’s diagnosis, with certification renewed annually and submitted to the employer. It will be treated as recognised temporary incapacity for work and paid at no less than 70 per cent of the employee’s salary under existing rules. Transfers to model colleges are now closed. Montenegro joins Spain and Portugal, which introduced similar menstrual leave policies in 2023 and 2025 respectively.
Supporters, including Montenegro’s Women’s Rights Centre, say the policy recognises the serious impact of conditions such as endometriosis, which affects about one in 10 women. However, critics have raised concerns that menstrual leave could unintentionally affect women’s employment prospects, with surveys in countries such as the Netherlands showing that some women support the idea while fearing potential career consequences.
The policy has therefore reignited debate over how workplaces should address severe menstrual health conditions while ensuring women are not disadvantaged in employment.
