‘Menstruation Is Not A Handicap,’ Says Smriti Irani Opposing Mandatory Period Leave; Know Situation In Other Countries

New Delhi: Women and Child Development Minister Smriti Irani on Wednesday opposed the idea of mandatory paid leave for women on account of menstruation, “As a menstruating woman, menstruation and the menstruation cycle are not a handicap; they’re a natural part of women’s life journey,” Irani said in response to a question by MP Manoj Kumar Jha in the Rajya Sabha, India Today reported.

She said that menstruation should not require paid leave as such a policy could lead to discrimination against women. “We should not propose issues where women are denied equal opportunities just because somebody who does not menstruate has a particular viewpoint towards menstruation,” the minister said.

Notably, the government’s draft Menstrual Hygiene Policy released in October included leave provisions for menstruating women in workplaces, reported the Hindustan Times.

Menstrual Hygiene Policy

In a separate written reply to the question, Irani confirmed that the Union Health Ministry was rolling out a Menstrual Hygiene Policy.

Irani said that the Centre has several schemes to promote menstrual hygiene among adolescent girls, including one under the National Health Mission that focuses on the age group of 10 to 19. She also listed the National Guidelines on Menstrual Hygiene Management and the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao among programmes that raise awareness about menstrual hygiene.

“Further, to ensure access to sanitary napkins and good quality medicines at affordable prices, the Department of Pharmaceuticals under the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers implements the Pradhan Mantri Bharatiya Janausadhi Pariyojna, an important step in ensuring the health security for the citizens,” she added.

Last week, in a written reply to a question by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, Irani said that there was “no proposal under the consideration of the government to make provision for paid menstrual leave mandatory for all workplaces”.

Countries with paid menstrual leave

In February this year, Spain became the first European country to adopt legislation allowing for paid menstrual leave.

Indonesia passed a law in 2003 giving women the right to two days of paid menstrual leave per month, without giving prior notice. But the provision is in practice discretionary. Many employers allow only one day a month, while others give no menstrual leave at all, either because they are unaware of the law or choose to disregard it.

In Japan, a law dating as far back as 1947 states that companies must agree to give women menstrual leave if they request it, for as long as they need it. It does not, however, require them to pay women during menstrual leave, but around 30 percent of Japanese companies offer full or partial pay, according to a 2020 labour ministry survey.

South Korea gives women one day month of unpaid menstrual leave.

A 2018 survey showed greater take-up than in Japan, with a little over 19 percent of women taking time off.

In Taiwan, the Act of Gender Equality in Employment gives women three days of menstrual leave per year, which are not deducted from the statutory 30 days of regular sick leave. Women can only take one day in any given month. Like sick leave, workers on menstrual leave receive only 50 percent of their salary.

Zambia passed a law in 2015 allowing women to take a day off work during their period, without giving notice or supplying a doctor’s note.