"Half of All Power to Women"... Spain Advances Gender Equality Law

Mandatory Quotas for Women in Election Candidates and Corporate Executives
Also Establishing Laws for Menstrual Leave and Transgender Rights Protection

Spain is promoting a gender equality bill that aims to equalize the ratio of men and women across various fields such as politics and industry.

On the 4th (local time), according to major foreign media reports, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced the "Equal Representation Law" at a Spanish Socialist Workers' Party rally. The Spanish political sphere, composed of a left-wing coalition government, has been introducing bills advocating gender equality for some time.

If this bill passes through the cabinet meeting and is approved by the parliament, all political parties will be required to maintain an equal gender ratio among their candidates running in elections. Currently, the proportion of female lawmakers in the Spanish parliament is 44% in the lower house and 39% in the upper house.

Additionally, publicly listed companies with more than 250 employees and annual sales exceeding 50 million euros (approximately 65.1 billion KRW) must have at least 40% of their management positions occupied by women. It will also be mandatory for boards of various professional associations and judging panels managing awards funded by public money to maintain a female membership ratio of at least 40%.

Pedro Sanchez, Prime Minister of Spain
Photo by AFP Yonhap News

Last month, Spain passed a law ensuring that paid sick leave for employees suffering from menstrual pain is covered by the social security system rather than the employer. Employees who find it difficult to work due to menstrual pain can take as much leave as needed. Like other sick leaves, a medical certificate is required when taking menstrual leave, and the doctor determines the duration of the leave. Spain is the first country in Europe to introduce menstrual leave.

In December of last year, a bill was also enacted to guarantee the rights of transgender individuals. The bill allows anyone to legally change their gender without the judgment of medical personnel. Previously, to change gender, one had to submit proof of two years of hormone therapy and a medical diagnosis indicating gender identity disorder.

Prime Minister Sanchez emphasized the gender equality bill, stating, "Since half of society's members are women, half of the political and economic power should belong to women," adding, "This is a measure beneficial not only to feminism but to Spanish society as a whole."