Overview

• Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s cabinet cleared the Menstrual Leave Policy, 2025, entitling women to 12 paid days a year across government offices, IT firms, MNCs, garment units and other private employers.
• Labour Minister Santosh Lad termed the law progressive and said employees may use the sanctioned 12 days monthly or in a single block based on their cycle.
• Karnataka positions the policy as the first comprehensive state-wide scheme covering private-sector workers, unlike Bihar and Odisha’s government-only provisions or Kerala’s policy for ITI trainees.
• The Labour Department has sought administrative clearance to roll out the policy, shifting attention to implementation details and private-sector compliance.
• The change could affect large female workforces in Bengaluru’s garment and tech industries, with women’s rights advocates welcoming the step while noting uncertainty for informal workers.