This is to provide an important update regarding the new Menstrual Leave Policy for Women Employees issued by the Labour Department, Government of Karnataka (G.O. No. LD 466 LET 2023).
Key details from the Government Order:
- The Government Order is dated 20/11/2025 and was published in the Karnataka Gazette on Thursday, November 20, 2025.
- One day of paid leave per month, restricted to 12 days per year.
- Applies to all permanent, contract, and outsourced women employees between the ages of 18 and 52 years working in establishments registered under acts including:
- The Factories Act, 1948
- The Karnataka Shops and Commercial Establishments Act, 1961
- The Plantation Labour Act, 1951
- The Beedi and Cigar Workers (Conditions of Employment) Act, 1966
- The Motor Transport Workers Act, 1961
- Entitlement: All Women employees (permanent, contract, or outsourced) between 18–52 years of age are entitled to one day of paid leave per month, amounting to 12 days annually, during their menstrual cycle.
- Scope of Applicability: The policy applies to all sectors, including government offices, IT/BT, MNCs, garment, and private industries operating within Karnataka.
- Conditions for Availing Leave:
- The leave must be utilized in the respective month and cannot be carried over (extended) to the next month.
- Women employees are not required to provide any medical certificate to avail the one-day menstrual leave every month.
- Objective: The policy aims to promote women’s health, morale, and workplace productivity, and is positioned as a progressive step towards gender-sensitive employment practices and women empowerment.
Action Points for Employers
- Review internal leave and HR policies to incorporate “Menstrual Cycle Leave – MCL” as a distinct leave category. This leave is in addition to existing leave entitlements.
- Ensure that all eligible women employees are informed of their entitlement.
- Update payroll and attendance systems to accommodate the monthly paid leave.
- Communicate the update to your HR and compliance teams.
- All leave requests under this policy to be treated with strict confidentiality.
- No adverse action is to be taken against an employee for availing menstrual leave.
- The menstrual leave must be availed within the same month and cannot be encashed. Only one day of paid menstrual leave is permitted per month.
- The menstrual leave shall be availed through an intimation or notification-based process, since the Government notification explicitly states that women employees are not required to submit any medical certificate to avail menstrual leave. Employees are required to promptly inform their reporting manager or HR upon availing the leave, and organizations are advised to formalise their internal leave policy framework.
- This requirement must also be implemented by your third-party vendors for women employees based in Karnataka, and they should be duly informed of the same.
Karnataka has formally recognized menstrual leave as a workplace right, positioning it as one of the few regions globally to implement this policy.