Paraguayan labor law grants female employees two paid working days per year to undergo preventive screenings for breast and cervical cancer.

As part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, companies should be aware of the labor regulations that ensure female employees have access to preventive screenings for the early detection of breast and cervical cancer.

In Paraguay, Law No. 3,803/09, as amended by Law No. 6,211/18, grants female employees two paid working days per year to undergo Pap smears and mammograms.

What should employers consider?

To manage this leave appropriately, employers should take the following requirements into account:

Requesting leave

Employees must request leave in advance and indicate the scheduled date of their medical examination.

Coordinating the date

Leave must be arranged in accordance with the procedure established by law, taking into account the proposed date and the necessary coordination with the employer.

If a medical emergency prevents an employee from requesting leave in advance, she must inform her employer as soon as possible.

Justifying the absence

The regulations do not require screenings to be performed at a specific healthcare institution.

To justify the absence, employees must provide a certificate issued by the healthcare center, clinic, hospital or other medical facility where the examinations were performed.

Reviewing internal procedures

Companies are advised to review their internal regulations and Human Resources procedures to ensure that the request, approval and justification of this leave are properly addressed in accordance with applicable law.

This helps establish clear procedures for managing absences without introducing requirements that restrict employees' ability to exercise this right.