Karnataka Approves Menstrual Leaves: What Is The Period Leave Debate About?

Paid menstrual leave for female employees always felt like an aspiration policy that might never get approved, but it has been approved. On Thursday, October 9, 2025, the Karnataka cabinet approved a policy granting one paid menstrual leave every month. Women employees in sectors across all sectors, including government offices, garment factories, IT firms, MNCs, and even private industrial units. The cabinet which approved this period leave policy was chaired by CM Siddaramaiah. This policy will benefit a lot of women all over the state and will be implemented soon. Let's dive in to find out more about this paid menstrual leave policy and the debate that people have raised over it. 

About The Karnataka Menstrual Leave Policy

Under the period leave policy of the Karnataka government, women employees will be allowed to take one paid menstrual leave each month. The formal name of this bill is ‘Karnataka Menstrual Leave and Hygiene Bill’. This bill was drafted by the Law Commission of Karnataka. This initiative by Karnataka is said to aid over 50 lakh working women. 

What Is The Period Leave Debate About?

After the state of Karnataka and several private companies have introduced paid menstrual leave for working women, the ‘Period Leave Debate’ has once again come into discussion. At its core, this debate revolves around equity versus equality in the workplace. People are questioning whether acknowledging a biological difference helps or harms the cause of gender parity.

The debate further talks about how this separate leave policy for menstruation is a progressive step for women's health or a regressive one for jobs. 

The Pro Argument:  With paid menstrual leaves, women would get the chance to take proper rest, recover and come back to work with more productivity. Many women who experience severe pain during their menstrual cycle will not be able to work through the discomfort. With these inclusive, health-conscious policies by companies, employees will be more loyal to working with them for longer years. 

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The Con Argument:  People standing strong on the opposite side of the period leave about how this period leave policy could cause more harm than benefit for women. Their argument revolves around the point of how this policy would further discourage companies from hiring female employees due to these extra paid leaves. They are saying that this will send across the message that women are biologically inferior, less capable, or too emotional for demanding roles. 

Even journalist Barkha Dutt has been seen taking the side of this debate. Her reason for staying on this side is that special leave contradicts the feminist goal of pursuing any profession without exceptionalism.

 

 

 

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While both sides make completely valid points, we need to circle back to the point of how this policy is about making the workplace more inclusive. Companies need to understand that by offering such policies to employees, the employee and the employer will both benefit equally. This policy would give women an equal opportunity to rise in the hierarchy at work while not compromising on their health or well-being. 

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Indian States With Menstrual Leave Policy

With the approval of this menstrual leave policy, Karnataka has joined Bihar and Odisha in granting menstrual leave to working women. The state of Bihar grants two days off per month, but only restricts this benefit to women in government staff. Odisha, on the other hand, offers 12 such leaves to women employees across all sectors annually. 

Even women who are not working in these states are very elated to hear about the period leave policy getting approved. Paid menstrual leave is a step towards making the workplace more inclusive, prioritising women’s health for women all across the globe. 

Image Credit: Freepik

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