Karnataka Becomes India’s First State To Grant 12 Menstrual Leaves To All Women Employees

In some good news today, Karnataka became the first Indian state to approve one paid menstrual leave per month. According to the state government, all women working in state government offices, garment factories, multinational companies, IT firms, and other private organisations will now be entitled to 12 days of paid menstrual leave per year.

Karnataka Approves Period Leave Policy For Female Employees

In what is being viewed as a landmark decision promoting workplace inclusivity, the Karnataka government has approved paid menstrual leave for women employees across both public and private sectors. According to the Times of India, with this move, Karnataka becomes the first state in India to formally grant women one paid menstrual leave per month, marking a significant step toward recognising menstrual health and wellbeing in the workplace.

As per the Karnataka government, the decision to grant one paid menstrual leave per month was taken to promote a supportive and inclusive work environment. The official cabinet note said, “The decision was taken keeping in mind the health and well-being of working women and to encourage a more inclusive and supportive work environment. The initiative also aims to spread awareness about menstrual health and ensure physical and mental comfort for women employees.”

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First Indian State To Approve This Move

It’s worth noting that while states like Bihar, Odisha, Kerala, and Sikkim do offer menstrual leave, their policies are limited to specific sectors and do not extend to all female employees across the workforce. In some states, the rule is limited to state employees only.

In contrast, Karnataka has approved menstrual leave for all employees in the state, irrespective of the industry they work in–making it the first state in India to fully adopt this policy. We must mention several private sector firms like Zomato, Swiggy, Larsen & Toubro (L&T), Byju’s, and Gozoop also offer paid menstrual leaves to their female employees.

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Kudos to the Karnataka government for taking a step towards the overall well-being of the female employees in the state!

Cover Image Courtesy: Canva Pro/SORAPOP UDOMSRI