On Friday, European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) called for menopause to be recognized as a workplace issue within European Union (EU) legislation, linking its effects to the gender pay and pension gaps.
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The request was made on the occasion of World Menopause Day, observed on October 18. The trade union organization warned that this life stage remains largely unrecognized in European policies, due to the lack of harmonized legislation and the fact that the European Commission has no plans to develop a specific strategy.
According to the ETUC, nearly 30% of women experience symptoms that affect their ability to work, including fatigue, difficulty concentrating, sleep problems, hot flashes, joint pain, and anxiety.
Citing various studies, the confederation noted that women’s earnings decline by 7.4% in the four years following the onset of menopause. This drop is attributed to reduced working hours, medical leave, and the loss of promotion opportunities.
“The taboo surrounding menopause at work must end. The loss of wages, missed promotions, and lower pensions are the price millions of women pay because workplaces have not been adapted to menopause,” stated Isabelle Schömann, Deputy General Secretary of the ETUC.
Semana Europea para la Seguridad y Salud en el Trabajo: Avancemos. Compromiso con la Prevención de los Riesgos Psicosociales@EU_OSHA #SemanaEuropeaRESST #SemanaEuropeaSST_JCyL #Euhealthyworkplaceshttps://t.co/qQ1RZOp7yQ pic.twitter.com/3TIH5xJKxo
— Trabajo y Prevención Castilla y León (@prevencionjcyl) October 7, 2026
The text reads, “European Week for Safety and Health at Work: Let’s Move Forward. A Commitment to Preventing Psychosocial Risks”
Proposed measures
The ETUC has put forward a set of measures to adapt workplaces to the needs of women going through this stage. These include:
1- Workplace risk assessments that take into account temperature, ventilation, and facilities.
2- Flexible working hours and remote work.
3- Training for managers, human resources staff, and the broader workforce.
4- Policies agreed upon with trade unions, which are then implemented and monitored.
5- Physical adjustments to the workplace. Paid leave for symptoms, with no penalty for the employee.
6- Free menstrual and menopause-related products in the workplace.
Schömann pointed out that too many women have to lose wages or leave their jobs because very little consideration has been given to an experience shared by half the population.
The organization highlighted that many labor unions are already negotiating collective agreements that include temperature adjustments and flexible work arrangements. It also called for labor regulations—currently “geared toward male-dominated jobs”—to be adapted to the reality of the entire workforce.
#Belgium | At least 50,000 workers marched through Brussels against PM Bart De Wever’s austerity plans, rejecting proposed cuts and demanding greater taxes on large fortunes.
Unions warn of further strikes.#WorkersRights #Austerity #teleSUREnglish pic.twitter.com/2ITyaadSGG— teleSUR English (@telesurenglish) October 9, 2026
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