Spanish lawmakers adopted on Thursday a new bill creating a menstrual leave for women suffering from painful periods and strengthening access to abortion in public hospitals."This legislature is a legislature of feminist conquests," Irene Montero, Spain's Minister of Equality and a member of the radical left-wing Podemos, a party allied with socialist prime minister Pedro Sanchez's government, told the Congress of Deputies.The length of sick leave that doctors will be able to grant to women suffering from painful periods has not been specified in the bill.However, there are reservations in certain quarters, particularly within the UGT trade union, one of the country's two major unions, over concerns about the possibility that employers who want to avoid these absences will put a brake on the hiring of women.Access to abortion in public hospitals"Menstrual leave" is one of the key measures in the broader legislation, which also provides for increased access to abortion in public hospitals."