The Karnataka government has expanded its menstrual leave policy to include women working in government departments, as per PTI.
The decision follows last month’s order mandating one day of paid menstrual leave per month for women aged 18 to 52 employed in permanent, contractual and outsourced roles across various sectors.
In a fresh order issued on 2 December, the state government approved one day of menstrual leave each month for women employees in the government workforce, with immediate effect.
The earlier directive applied to industries and establishments registered under laws such as the Factories Act 1948, the Karnataka Shops and Commercial Establishments Act 1961, the Plantation Workers Act 1951, the Beedi and Cigar Workers Act 1966 and the Motor Transport Workers Act 1961.
Women government employees in the age group of 18 to 52 who undergo menstruation are eligible for this benefit. The authority empowered to grant casual leave may sanction menstrual leave, and no medical certificate will be required.
The order specifies that the leave must be recorded separately in the attendance register and cannot be combined with any other form of leave.
The policy expansion comes amid a legal challenge filed by the Bangalore Hotels Association in the Karnataka High Court. The association had questioned the earlier directive that made menstrual leave compulsory across sectors, arguing that the state had not implemented a similar rule for women in government departments.
It described the directive as discriminatory on the grounds that the government, despite being one of the largest employers of women, had not extended the benefit to its own staff at the time.
By extending menstrual leave to women in government service, Karnataka has brought parity between public and private sector employees while strengthening its position on workplace inclusivity and welfare. The decision also addresses concerns raised in the legal challenge and reinforces the state’s commitment to gender-sensitive labour policies.
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Published on: Dec 4, 2025, 2:58 PM IST
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