Menstrual leave: Many women welcome move, unorganised workers too seek inclusion

A day after the Karnataka Cabinet’s landmark decision to approve the Karnataka Menstrual Leave Policy-2025 that will ensure one day’s paid leave in a month across government and private sectors, many women workers welcomed the move.

With this decision, Karnataka becomes the first State to cover both the government and private sectors in its menstrual leave policy. Odisha and Bihar have a policy for government employees while Kerala has implemented the policy in universities. 

Gargi M., who works with a semiconductor firm in the city, said that while their work may not involve physical labour, women still need rest during menstruation. She added that the option of working from home does not necessarily help in such situations, and therefore, the policy approval is welcome.

Speaking to The Hindu, Uma Reddy, president of FKCCI, appreciated the policy from a gender equity perspective noting that as a woman, she would deem it a welcoming move, and an achievement for Karnataka for taking a lead. However, looking at it from the small and medium enterprises (SME) perspective, she said it raises questions about who is going to take up that extra one day work every month. “SMEs are already going through challenges, and this may further create a situation where women might not be preferred to be hired,” Ms. Reddy feared.

‘Macro-economic benefits’

Garments and Textiles Workers’ Union leader Pratibha pointed out that while employers argue that additional cost will discourage hiring women, similar arguments were raised globally against maternity leave.

“The focus should be on macroeconomic benefits, encouraging greater female participation in the workforce rather than microeconomic decisions of individual firms. The implementation of menstrual leave will institutionalise the biological nature of menstruation and reduce presenteeism,” Ms. Pratibha said.

Namrata Das, a psychiatrist, said that menstrual leave policy will help people have open conversations about menstruation both at work and in society at large. She added that such conversations can reduce stigma, which is especially important for people dealing with menstrual health conditions. “The social taboo around discussing menstruation often forces women to hide their discomfort from colleagues and even healthcare providers,” she said. 

In unorganised sector 

Meanwhile, union leaders from multiple unorganised sectors stressed the need for inclusion of menstrual leave policy in unorganised sector too, under the provision through Labour Welfare Boards or similar mechanisms. 

M. Chandrashekhar Dongre, union leader for plantation workers in Kodagu, Chikkamagaluru, and Hassan, said that there should be a mechanism and union leaders should be consulted to provide the same leave to the unorganised sector. Though difficult, these workers should get leave because they often work without benefits. While others may defend work-from-home options, these women do not even have such facilities.

Avani Chokshi, labour lawyer and convening‑body member of the IT and ITes Democratic Employees Association (IIDEA), noted that a section of unorganised sectors can be given the leave benefits through the welfare board’s purview just as they already receive other benefits such as free transport and marriage benefits. She insisted the government must draft rules to bring these sectors on board.