Karnataka Considers Six Days Paid Menstrual Leave for Working Women.

Karnataka is set to become the fourth state in India to offer paid menstrual leave to working women following Bihar, Kerala, and Odisha. The state government has formed an 18-member committee to draft “The Right of Women to Menstrual Leave and Free Access to Menstrual Health Products” bill on Friday aiming to improve work-life balance for women. The labour ministry panel recommends the move as the Panel report seeks 6 days yearly off for all working women in Karnataka.

Labour Minister Santosh Lad stated that this initiative supports the female workforce and acknowledges women’s significant physical and emotional challenges throughout their lives. The proposed leave will be flexible which allows women to choose when they need time off. He also stressed that this move is not only just about being progressive but also about considering the various factors that affect women, especially after marriage or childbirth. Karnataka’s paid menstrual leave policy will provide six days of paid leave annually for working women in both private and public sectors if implemented.

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This development to consider the menstrual period follows a growing global trend with countries like Spain, Japan, Taiwan, Indonesia, and South Korea already offering menstrual leave. Some Indian companies such as Zomato, Swiggy, and Byju’s, have also introduced similar policies to support their female employees. However, not everyone supports the idea as the former Union Women and Child Development Minister Smriti Irani opposed a similar proposal in Parliament in December 2023, arguing that menstruation is a natural process and should not be treated as a disability requiring special leave. She warned that it could hinder equal opportunities for women.

Earlier in July 2024,  the Supreme Court ordered the state government and central government to make decisions on menstrual leave policies that may encourage them to consider college students as well as working women across India.

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