Hundreds of thousands of women in the state's government and private sectors to benefit
Up to 400,000 female employees in India's southern state, Karnataka, may now take one day of paid leave under a new menstrual leave policy in the state.
Women aged 18 to 52 in the government and private sector may avail the leave, which will grant them one day of paid time off every month even without a medical certificate, BBC News reported.
An estimated 350,000 to 400,000 women in Karnataka's formal sector will benefit from the policy.
However, the report pointed out that it potentially leaves behind an estimated six million other women who are domestic workers, daily wage labourers, and gig workers.
But the policy is still regarded as a major step forward for women's working conditions in a state where the world's biggest IT firms have facilities, such as Google, Microsoft, and IBM.
Karnataka is the first Indian state to introduce a menstrual leave policy for employees in the government and private sector. Other states, such as Bihar and Odisha, offer two paid menstrual leave days but only to government employees.
Menstrual leave policies worldwide
Menstrual leave policies have been gaining more traction globally. Countries, including Spain, Japan, Indonesia, and South Korea, are also offering similar benefits to varying degrees.
Days for Girls, an international non-profit organisation aiming to destigmatise menstruation, noted that offering menstrual leave benefits could give organisations the following advantages:
- Alleviate menstruation-related workplace stigma
- Perceived improvement in employee satisfaction and increased productivity
But it also noted that menstrual leave policies may increase gender-based discrimination in workplaces and reinforce negative attitudes about menstruation and its impact on employee productivity.
"Whether organisations decide to offer menstrual leave or implement other strategies for establishing inclusive and supportive workplaces, it is important to recognise and prioritise the significance of menstrual health in the workplace and how it affects employee productivity, success and overall wellness," it previously said.
