In India, some companies like Byju’s offer 12-day annual period leave, and Swiggy 2-day paid monthly period leave, among others to females.
Bihar is a pioneer in providing paid period leave to women. In 1992, after months of struggle, the Lalu Prasad Yadav government granted two days’ period leave per month to women government employees, up to the age of 45
Union Minister of Women and Child Development Smriti Irani recently rejected the need for period leaves for menstruating women, and dismissed the notion of menstruation as a “handicap”.
Since then, it has become a topic of discussion on social media platforms. In India, some companies like Byju’s offer 12-day annual period leave, and Swiggy 2-day paid monthly period leave to females among other companies.
Bihar is a pioneer in providing paid period leave to women. In 1992, after months of struggle, the Lalu Prasad Yadav government granted two days’ period leave per month to women government employees, up to the age of 45.
Back in 2017, an MP from Arunachal Pradesh introduced ‘The Menstruation Benefits Bill, 2017’ in Parliament to provide 24 days of leave annually, or two days of period leave each month in public and private establishments for women employees. However, the bill was withdrawn later.
What other countries have to say about menstrual leaves:
SPAIN
Spain became the first nation in Europe to offer its female citizens the menstruation leaves. The bill passed in February 2023 states that women who experience severe menstruation symptoms, such as intense cramps, nausea, vertigo, or vomiting, can take up to three days of menstrual leave every cycle.
However, as paid leave will be funded by the country’s public social security system, employees will require a medical note for each application.
JAPAN
Article 68 of Japan’s Labour Standards Law, says that an employer will not reject the leave application of a woman who has requested a period leave.
Even though the law requires companies to allow women to take leave, it does not mandate them to provide paid leave or extra pay for women who choose to work during menstruation.
INDONESIA
The Indonesian government introduced the menstrual leave policy in 1948 and restructured it in 2003. The policy states that female employees with menstrual pain are not obliged to work during the first two days of their menstrual cycle.
However, the provision is discretionary. Many employers only permit one day of menstruation leave each month, and some do not grant any leave at all.
SOUTH KOREA
Article 73, of the Labour Law of South Korea states, “An employer shall, if requested by a female worker, grant her a day menstruation leave per month.” The employer is not required to provide an allowance for the use of the leave, if requested, by the amended legislation, which now recognizes menstrual time as unpaid leave.
ZAMBIA
The Menstrual Leave Law of Zambia known as “Mother’s Day,” enables women to take a day off work per month. If the female employee fails to get leave, she is entitled to file a lawsuit against her employer.
TAIWAN
Female employees have the right to request a day off every month for a period leave at half their regular wage according to Article 14 of Taiwan’s gender equality in employment law. However, more than these three days of leave in the same year are considered as sick leave.
VIETNAM
Female workers in Vietnam are entitled to a three-day menstrual leave per month, along with a 30-minute break every day during menstruation. Additional compensation is paid to women who choose not to take menstruation leave.
Source: News18