Karnataka menstrual leave policy: What is eligibility criteria and how much leave women can avail?

New Delhi: A month after the Karnataka Cabinet approved menstrual leave for women employee, the state government issued an official order in this regard on Wednesday, paving the way for the implementation of the policy that has brought relief to female workforce across the state.

Now, women employees in Karnataka can avail one-day menstrual leave per month.

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Who all are eligible?

As per the policy, women aged between 18 to 52 are eligible to seek menstrual leave. Women employees working on permanent, contract and outsourced basis can avail this leave.

Those working in state government offices, garments and multinational companies, IT, and private industrial sectors are eligible for menstrual leave.

The policy will be applicable to the workforce employed in establishments registered under Factories Act, 1948, Karnataka Shops and Establishments Act, 1961, Plantation Workers Act 1951, Beedi and Cigar Workers (Conditions of Employment) Act, 1966, and Motor Transport Workers Act, 1961.

Menstrual leave: How much leave women will get per month?

According to the government order, women employees are eligible to get one-day menstrual leave every month. The government order states that employers have been directed to provide 12 paid leave per year to all female employees.

The policy was drafted by an 18-member expert committee that had earlier proposed six menstrual leaves annually. However, the Labour Department later revised the number to 12 and sent the final draft to the government for approval. The Labour Department said that the menstrual leave is being extended considering health aspects, and to increase efficiency, besides increasing women participation in the workforce.

Need to be availed same month, no medical certificate required

According to the government order, female employees must utilise menstrual leave within the same month. If it is not utilised the same month, it will lapse. There will be no provision to carry over the leave to the next month. Female employees are not mandated to provide any medical certificate to avail the leave, according to the policy