Karnataka Govt Clears Menstrual Leave Policy, Women Can Take One Paid Day Off Every Month

Bengaluru: Karnataka's cabinet, led by chief minister Siddaramaiah, has approved a menstrual leave policy on Thursday (October 9) that entitles women in both government and private sectors to one paid day off every month.

The Menstrual Leave Policy (MLP), 2025 covers women working in different sectors, including government offices, private companies, IT hubs and garment factories. According to official estimates, over 60 lakh women work in Karnataka, with 25-30 lakh employed in the corporate sector.

The labour department officials plan to hold awareness sessions with employers before the rule is implemented.

The decision was taken after an 18-member committee, led by Sapna S. from Christ University's Law Department, studied the physical challenges and health needs of women during menstruation and advocated for adequate rest.

Notably, states like Bihar and Odisha already offer menstrual leave to women in government jobs. Bihar provides two days of leave monthly, while Odisha offers one day. Kerala has introduced menstrual leave for female students and university employees.

Some companies, such as Larsen & Toubro (L&T), have also implemented menstrual leave policies for their employees. L&T's policy provides one paid day off monthly for women in its engineering and construction divisions.

In July 2024, the Supreme Court had suggested that the Union government should develop a model policy on menstrual leave after consulting with states and stakeholders, but stopped short of making it mandatory.

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