State govt on Wednesday informed the Madras high court that it has constituted a committee to decide on framing a comprehensive paid menstrual leave policy for women employees in govt services and advisory guidelines for those working in private establishments.
The petitioner stated that the absence of a menstrual leave policy results in indirect discrimination against women employees, thereby violating Article 14 of the Constitution, as women alone bear the burden of a recurring biological condition and are compelled either to suffer wage loss or to work through debilitating pain, unlike their male counterparts. The petitioner stated that the continued policy vacuum adversely affects lakhs of women working in govt sectors, anganwadis, schools, rural health centres and sanitation services, many of whom lack rest facilities or flexible work options, thereby aggravating health risks and workplace inequality. Madurai : State govt on Wednesday informed the Madras high court that it has constituted a committee to decide on framing a comprehensive paid menstrual leave policy for women employees in govt services and advisory guidelines for those working in private establishments.
The petitioner stated that the continued policy vacuum adversely affects lakhs of women working in govt sectors, anganwadis, schools, rural health centres and sanitation services, many of whom lack rest facilities or flexible work options, thereby aggravating health risks and workplace inequality. The same is the situation for women who are in the private sector but do not have flexible work options in their line of work.