Bengaluru: Female employees in Bengaluru will now be able to avail a leave during their menstruation. In a revolutionary move to make the workplace healthier, the Karnataka government on Wednesday passed an order mandating one day of paid menstrual leave per month to all working women. This applies to employees aged between 18 and 52, who are working in permanent, contractual, and outsourced jobs. The Karnataka Cabinet cleared the Menstrual Leave Policy last month. With this, Karnataka becomes the first state to implement such rule.
“The concerned employers are directed to provide the facility of 12 days paid leave per annum — one day per month — during their menstrual cycle to all permanent/contract/outsourced female employees, between the age group of 18 to 52 years,” the government order said, quoted by news agency PTI.
“It is applicable to women working in all industries and establishments registered under the Factories Act, 1948; Karnataka Shops and Commercial Establishments Act, 1961; Plantation Workers Act, 1951; Beedi and Cigar Workers (Conditions of Employment) Act, 1966; and Motor Transport Workers Act, 1961, with the good intention of enhancing their health, efficiency and performance and enhancing their mental well-being,” it said.
Do You Need to Submit Any Document?
The order clarifies that the women employee do not need to submit any medical certificate to avail a day’s menstrual leave every month. As per the order, the women employees have to use the menstrual leave in that very month and cannot “carry over” it to the next month.
Reddit Reacts
It gathered a mixed reaction from people. While many praised the policy to allow women a monthly leave for period pain, some highlighted the loopholes or the adverse impact it can have. A user on Reddit said, “It is a good initiative but I think companies might think twice before hiring a woman, we need stricter laws regarding hiring discrimination for such initiatives to work :/”
To which another replied, “You’re assuming that companies have identical male and female candidates interviewing for the same role. No one would give up a good candidate just because of a leave policy. Let’s be real: companies would just expect women to work from home during their period leave. That’s an improvement in itself.”