Key Points
On February 24, the Supreme Court of India refused to entertain a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) calling for the introduction of paid menstrual pain leave in the country and made an observation that such a policy could disincentivise employers from hiring women..
The Apex courts stand invited polarising viewpoints on the topic, with some people believing that the policy will lead to more inclusive workspaces that recognise the physiology of womens bodies and help them deal with crippling pain, while others are of the viewpoint that it will lead to discriminatory practices and hamper a womans career growth...
In a similar vein, journalist Barkha Dutt, in an opinion piece for The Washington Post in 2017, had argued against paid menstrual leave..
Adding, Dr Sudha Shashwati, Assistant Professor at Jindal Institute of Behavioural Sciences, an expert on gender behaviour at workplaces, said that paid menstrual leaves are a recognition of the biological reality a large number of women (and transgender and gender diverse employees) live with, which is experiencing pain and acute discomfort during menstruation...
Workplaces that treat their employees, all employees, with dignity and make them feel like they belong, are likely to be more productive in the long run, even if that means giving a few extra leaves every year to a group of employees.. Sharing her views on whether paid menstrual leaves negatively impact womens career growth, she said, The androcentrism of our workplaces is the source of the worry that a policy like paid menstrual leave may hamper womens careers, that it may be associated with victimisation i.e..
You might be interested in
Mama Earth Co-founder Ghazal Alagh voices concerns over period leave debate, says 'setback for hard-earned equality...'
15, Dec, 23Alagh, a prominent entrepreneur, cautioned against the implementation of a paid leave policy for menstruation, suggesting that it might pose challenges for women in the workforce. Taking to the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), she shared her perspective on the matter.
‘Menstruation not a handicap’: Smriti Irani opposes paid period leave for women
14, Dec, 23Responding to a question in Parliament, Union Minister Smriti Irani made a firm stand against the concept of paid period leave, stating, "As a menstruating woman, menstruation… is not a handicap, it’s a natural part of women’s life journey.”
Supreme Court pushes for govt. to consider making policy on menstrual pain leave
24, Feb, 23A bench headed by Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud said this is a policy issue and a representation can be made to the Union Ministry of Women and Child Development