We’re on leave, period! And no boss in Karnataka can say ‘no’…

Bengaluru: In a landmark step towards compassion, inclusivity and gender equity at the workplace, the Karnataka government has implemented the “Menstrual Leave Policy 2025,” entitling women employees to one paid day off every month for menstrual health.

The policy — effective immediately — extends across government offices, garment industries, IT companies, multinational corporations, and other private sector organisations, reflecting the state’s determination to build a workplace ecosystem that acknowledges the physical and emotional realities of women’s health.

Under this new provision, women are entitled to 12 paid menstrual leave days annually — a significant enhancement from the earlier 2024 proposal that allowed six days.

The policy also provides flexibility: women can choose to take one day off every month or accumulate the days in accordance with their menstrual cycle.

Describing the move as a “milestone in progressive governance,” Karnataka Labour Minister Santosh Lad said: “We have approved menstrual leaves for women. It is the most progressive new law that we have brought. Women can take as many as 12 sanctioned leaves in a year, once a month or all at once, whatever they choose as per their menstrual cycle. It is a feather in the cap of a government that thinks for the welfare of women and the many roles she has to play.”

The initiative positions Karnataka as a frontrunner in advancing gender-sensitive labour reforms, aligning with the global movement to normalise conversations around menstrual health.

Similar steps have been taken elsewhere in India — Kerala recently announced two menstrual leave days per month for female trainees at Industrial Training Institutes, while Bihar and Odisha already offer annual menstrual leave to state government employees.

However, Karnataka’s decision to extend this benefit across public and private sectors alike makes it a model of inclusive policymaking.

For thousands of women in Bengaluru’s garment factories, IT corridors, and corporate offices, this policy is more than just an additional leave day — it is a recognition of dignity, empathy, and equality.

It acknowledges what has long been unspoken, offering women the space to rest, recover and return to work healthier and more productive.