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Karnataka state in India has introduced a new requirement for employers to provide mandatory paid menstrual leave to employees. This represents a new employee benefit obligation for employers operating in Karnataka, though specific details on the number of days, eligibility criteria, and effective date are not provided in the available article text.
Karnataka Mandates 12 Days of Paid Menstrual Leave Annually
Karnataka state in India has introduced mandatory paid menstrual leave for women employees across all registered establishments, effective 12 November 2025. Under Government Order No. KAI 466 LET 2023, employers must provide one day of paid menstrual leave per month—totaling 12 days annually—to eligible women employees. This requirement applies to all establishments registered under 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, and the Motor Transport Workers Act 1961.
Who is affected
This mandate applies to all employers operating registered establishments in Karnataka across all sectors, including government offices, garment units, multinational corporations, information technology companies, and other private industries. Women employees aged 18 to 52 years are eligible, regardless of employment type—permanent, contract, or outsourced workers all qualify for this benefit. The policy was developed following consultation with 75 stakeholders, including labour unions, employer associations, women's organizations, and the public, with 56 supporting the measure.
What's changing
Before this order, Karnataka had no statutory requirement for menstrual leave. The new policy establishes the following entitlements:
| Aspect | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Leave entitlement | 1 day per month (12 days per year) |
| Payment | Fully paid |
| Eligible age range | 18–52 years |
| Employment types covered | Permanent, contract, outsourced |
| Medical certificate | Not required |
| Carryover | Not permitted—unused leave expires at month end |
Women employees may take menstrual leave during their menstrual period each month without providing medical documentation. Leave not used within the calendar month cannot be carried forward to subsequent months.
What NEO partners and clients should do
- By 12 November 2025: Update employment contracts, employee handbooks, and leave policies for all Karnataka-based women employees to reflect the 12-day annual menstrual leave entitlement.
- Immediately: Configure payroll systems to track menstrual leave separately from other leave categories and ensure it is paid at full salary.
- Before December 2025: Train HR teams and managers on the new policy, emphasizing that no medical certificate may be requested and that leave expires monthly.
- Ongoing: Monitor compliance across permanent, contract, and outsourced women employees aged 18–52 to ensure all eligible workers can access this benefit.
Sources
- Government of Karnataka, Department of Labour, Government Order No. KAI 466 LET 2023, dated 12 November 2025: https://comply4hr.com/noti/2016/KASAE2025Dec11.pdf
