Bengaluru: Karnataka is in the final stages of preparing a policy that will grant women six days of paid menstrual leave per year. If implemented, this move could benefit thousands of women employees across both the public and private sectors.
Karnataka would become the fourth state in India to offer this leave, following the footsteps of Bihar, Kerala, and Odisha.
What Karnataka minister said about menstrual leave
Karnataka Labour Minister Santhosh Lad said that an 18-member committee, led by Sapna S, a law professor at Christ University, has submitted its report on the subject.
The minister said that this proposed policy aims to encourage more women to join the workforce at a time when their participation is relatively low.
Lad is expected to meet with the committee to discuss their recommendations, after which the policy will be shared with the public, companies, and other stakeholders for consultation.
Mohammed Mohsin, Principal Secretary of Labour, said that the policy is being designed to apply to women in both government and private sectors. After discussions, the goal is to frame a law that ensures effective implementation of menstrual leave.
There has been debate on both sides of the issue. Supporters believe menstrual leave is important for creating a more inclusive and supportive work environment. However, opponents argue that such a policy might discourage employers from hiring women, as reported by Deccan Herald.
Former Union Minister Smriti Irani said that menstrual leave portrays menstruation as a “handicap” and is therefore not advisable.
These countries already providing paid menstrual leaves to working women
Globally, some countries already provide paid menstrual leave. Spain became the first European nation to introduce such a law in February 2023. Indonesia, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan are other countries where menstrual leave is available.
Neeti Sharma, CEO of staffing firm TeamLease Digital, emphasised the importance of giving women the choice to avail menstrual leave without making it mandatory. She cautioned that forcing such policies could further discourage employers from hiring women, especially given that female workforce participation in India is already low.